| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08687556B2 |
Method for correlating connection information with mobile device identity
A method comprising establishing a first control connection between a home node and a home node gateway having a first control connection identity, establishing a second control connection between the home node gateway and a mobility management device having a second control connection identity, communicating network traffic sent between the home node and the mobility management device on behalf of a mobile device using the first control connection and the second control connection, receiving a mobile device identifier included in a control message sent from the mobility management device using the second control connection in response to an entity type indication sent to the mobility management device from the home node gateway, the mobile device identifier uniquely identifying the mobile device, and correlating the mobile device identifier with a context including the first control connection identity and the second control connection identity. |
| US08687554B2 |
System and method for simple pairing of wired and wireless healthcare devices to a gateway
A system and method for effecting communication between a plurality of healthcare measurement devices and a remote patient monitoring server is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of effecting communication between the healthcare measurement devices and the remote patient monitoring server, includes communicating with an healthcare gateway device using a common gateway protocol to receive translated data via a plurality of translation units associated with a plurality of device communication modules residing in wired and wireless healthcare measurement devices, and communicating with the remote patient monitoring server using a plurality of remote protocols residing in a plurality of remote communication modules to transmit the received translated data. In some embodiments, the healthcare gateway device is communicatively coupled between the healthcare management devices and the remote patient monitoring server. |
| US08687550B2 |
Method and system for configuring base station parameters
A system for configuring base station parameters comprises a base station, a mobile station and a code generating system. Additionally, a method for configuring base station parameters comprises steps of: after a code generating system generates an operation code, the operation code is sent to a base station via a mobile station, wherein the operation code includes information required for performing a configuration operation; the base station, if determining the operation code as received to be valid, then performs the corresponding configuration operation according to the information required for performing the configuration operation. According to the present invention, without depending on the base station controller and other network elements such as a network management system, the base station can implement message interaction over air link, i.e., parameter configuration may be implemented without requiring the base station to access to the network management system; by using a key and a check code, a parameter configuration process which is triggered inadvertently or maliciously is avoided. |
| US08687548B2 |
Method and arrangement in a telecommunication system for handling status information of data units
A method is provides in a receiving node for handling status information of data units transmitted from a sending node to the receiving node over a radio link. The receiving node establishes (401) that a number of data units that has been transmitted by the sending node are missing. The receiving node sends (402) a reduced status message to the sending node over the radio link, which message is reduced such that it comprises the negative acknowledgement for a first part of missing data units and omits negative acknowledgements for the rest of the missing data units. The omitted negative acknowledgement for the rest of the missing data units will not erroneously be interpreted as correctly received data units by the sending node. |
| US08687540B2 |
Echo cancellation repeater using an inserted pilot with gain-based power level control scheme
A device for generating a pilot signal for use in a wireless repeater where the pilot signal is added to a transmit signal for transmission includes a pilot power control unit configured to set a power level of the pilot signal as a function of a gain of the repeater and a power level of the transmit signal, where the function comprises a linear or non-linear function. In one embodiment, the operation of the repeater may be divided into gain regions and the inserted pilot power is controlled according to the different gain regions of the repeater. When the repeater gain is low, the pilot power may be set greater than the transmit power to ensure there is sufficient signal to use for channel estimation. When the repeater gain is in steady state, the pilot power may be set to be lower than the transmit power to avoid interference. |
| US08687536B2 |
Method and apparatus to create multicast groups based on proximity
Devices and methods use close range communication links, such as near field communication (NFC) protocol links, to enable users to authenticate mobile devices to one another to create or expand secure multicast groups. Once the two or more devices establish a close range communication peer-to-peer link the devices exchange multicast group communication data sufficient to permit the devices to receive or send multicast messages. Long range wireless or wired network communication links are then used for multicast message communications. Proximity limits of the close range communication P2P link enables mutual trust to be presumed among devices, reducing the need for security and authentication signaling. The limited range of close range communication P2Plinks renders multicast groups established in this manner less vulnerable to eavesdropping and intrusion. Embodiments enable users to initiate secure multicast group participation merely by bringing two or more devices into close proximity. |
| US08687535B2 |
Method and system for server-side handling of a low-power client in a wide area network
A CMTS may receive a request that a network device be permitted to enter a power-saving mode of operation. In response, the CMTS may enter a power-saving mode of operation wherein MAC management messages, transmission opportunities for the sleeping network device, and/or contention periods on one or more channels occur at independently determinable intervals. The CMTS may then transmit a message granting the network device permission to enter the power-saving mode of operation. The CMTS may start a sleep timer upon transmitting the MAC management message and may deregister the network device if no communication is received from the network device prior to expiration of the sleep timer. The CMTs may buffer traffic destined for the network device in a buffer of the CMTS while the network device is in the power-saving mode of operation, and may wake the network device upon the amount of buffered traffic reaching a threshold. |
| US08687531B2 |
Wireless system for communication
A system for wirelessly communicating from a high speed data modem using a first radio transceiver at a first location and a second radio transceiver at a second location preferably includes: (i) a housing (containing the data modem, the first radio transceiver, a radio processor, and a power supply) connected to an outdoor supporting structure, which supports a coaxial cable carrying an RF signal and AC power; (ii) a splitter to split the RF signal from the AC power, wherein the radio processor sends a digital signal to the first radio transceiver, which sends the signal to a first antenna, and wherein the signal is provided from the first antenna to a second antenna coupled to the second radio transceiver at a user device, wherein the system communicates the signal from the second antenna to the second radio transceiver and then to a second radio processor coupled to the user device; and wherein the DC power is provided to the data modem, the first radio transceiver, and the radio processor. |
| US08687529B2 |
Circulator tuning for reduced intermodulation distortion in a wireless communication device
A mobile wireless communication device includes a circulators coupled between a respective communications arrangement and their antennas. Each circulator includes a coupled tuning network, wherein the tuning networks are operable to tune their circulators for maximum isolation from cross coupling between the power amplifiers within an operating frequency band of the respective communications arrangement. |
| US08687528B2 |
Layer 2 relay multiplexing and interference mitigation
A network arrangement comprising a relay node (RN), wherein the RN is configured to assign a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) allocated by an enhanced node B (ENB) for at least one user equipment (UE). A network comprising an ENB, wherein the ENB is configured to allocate a plurality of RBs for an RN, wherein the RBs are assigned for at least one UE. Also disclosed is a method for communicating in a network, comprising selecting a time-division (TD) communication mode, and using resource scheduling based on the selected TD communication mode. |
| US08687524B2 |
Software defined radio
A multi-protocol, multi-standard, software-defined radio (SDR) includes one or more RF front ends to support each radio frequency band, and a programmable processor that replaces special-purpose hardware for the tuning and demodulation of each radio service. The programmable processor has limited peak processing capabilities, and calculations are made to see if present user terminal assignments will result in processing conflicts that could exceed the peak processing capabilities. In traffic slot applications in particular, any possible simultaneous arrival or overlap of traffic slots from the respective radio services is projected. If conflicts will result from the current user terminal assignments, then those assignments are reshuffled to obtain a non-conflicting result. |
| US08687515B2 |
Reception device and method of determining the velocity of the device based on a received pilot signal
A channel characteristic obtained from a pilot signal is stored for a prescribed number of symbols and a Fourier transform is performed (1), the power of each Doppler frequency component is calculated (2), filtering is performed in the time direction for each Doppler frequency component (3), noise components are masked (4), power changes between mutually adjacent Doppler frequency components are emphasized (5), and motion information is generated by comparison with a predetermined decision threshold (6). Velocity detection that detects velocity of motion from a received signal with high precision in order to improve mobile reception performance by optimizing demodulation operations according to velocity of motion thereby becomes possible. |
| US08687514B2 |
Base station device and interference suppression method
Interference suppression by beam forming is achieved even in an FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) system. A base station device 1 performs communication based on FDD. The base station device 1 includes a downlink signal reception unit 12 that receives a downlink signal transmitted from another base station device. The base station device 1 performs a beam forming process for directing a null beam to an arrival direction of the downlink signal from the another base station device, by using transmission path information between the base station device and the another base station device, the information being available from the downlink signal received by the downlink signal reception unit 12. |
| US08687511B2 |
Secure location session manager
A Secure Location Session Manager (SLSM) is an intelligent router for open mobile alliance (OMA) Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Version 1.0 (and later) messages best implemented when multiple, geo-diverse SUPL servers are deployed in a distributed environment, such as an active-active redundant configuration within a wireless carrier's network. In a standalone option, the SLSM acts as a “middleman” for all SUPL positioning messages between a mobile device and a responsible SUPL server. In an embedded option, the SLSM resides within an existing server. The SLSM manages and stores session information for all pending and ongoing SUPL positioning sessions in internal tables for routing and load balancing purposes. The external interfaces of the SLSM consist of OMA ULP messages. |
| US08687510B1 |
Adaptively determining a data rate of packetized information transmission over a wireless channel
Systems and techniques relating to processing a signal received over a wireless channel. A technique includes adaptively determining a data rate of packetized information transmission based on both a signal quality measure of a received signal and a channel quality measure derived from the received signal, the channel quality measure being indicative of frequency selectivity in the wireless channel. An apparatus includes a channel estimator configured to be responsive to a received OFDM signal corresponding to multiple frequency tones of the channel, and configured to evaluate channel response characteristics of the frequency tones; and a channel state indicator configured to generate a channel quality measure usable along with a signal quality measure in adaptively determining a data rate of packetized information transmission, wherein the channel quality measure is generated from the channel response characteristics of the frequency tones and is indicative of frequency selectivity in the wireless channel. |
| US08687509B2 |
Method for beamforming
The present invention relates to a method for random beam-forming based on a codebook. The method includes generating a first random variable corresponding to a Gaussian distribution; generating a second random variable corresponding to a uniform distribution; generating a plurality of beam elements by using the first variable, the second variable, spatial correlation between channels, and indexes of transmitting antennas; and forming a beam by using the plurality of beam elements. |
| US08687506B2 |
Identifying network performance alert conditions
A computer-implemented method includes receiving diagnostic data from a plurality of network interface devices via a plurality of network connections corresponding to the network interface devices. Each of the plurality of network interface devices includes a diagnostic module to gather diagnostic data pertaining to the network interface device, to gather diagnostic data pertaining to the corresponding network connection, and to gather diagnostic data pertaining to a video device at a user location. The video device is coupled to the network interface device to receive video data via the corresponding network connection. The method also includes analyzing the diagnostic data at the computing device to identify one or more performance alert conditions associated with a service provider network. The method further includes generating an output identifying the one or more performance alert conditions. |
| US08687496B2 |
Base station, mobile station, communication system, and reordering method thereof
Disclosed is a reordering method for sending packets, to which numbers indicating sequence are attached, from a base station to a mobile station, and rearranging the packets in order of the sequence number in the mobile station. When a handover source base station transfers packets which have not been sent to the mobile station, out of packets received from a host station, to a handover target base station, and the handover target base station sends the packets to the mobile station, data is sent from the handover source base station to the mobile station to notify that transference of the packets has been executed at the execution of handover sequence. The mobile station executed, reordering of the received packets when the transference of the packets has been executed. |
| US08687495B2 |
Method and apparatus for polling in a wireless communication system
A data packet communication system employs radio link control (RLC) transmission between a transmitter and a receiver with an Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) arrangement whereby polling of the receiver is accomplished with reduced amount of redundantly transmitted data, such as between an access node and terminal. Upon a polling event, such as emptying of a transmission buffer of the transmitter, expiration of a polling timer, or reaching a radio link control (RLC) protocol data units (PDUs) count threshold, the transmitter sends a polling command to the receiver. This polling command is smaller than any of the RLC PDUs by resegmenting to a variably sized PDU sending a reduced amount of data. With evolving communication standards tending toward larger PDUs, such as in excess of a kilobyte for HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access Evolution) and 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution), this inefficiency can be of increasing impact. |
| US08687489B2 |
Aborting a packetized wireless communication
Systems and methods are provided for a signaling an ongoing communication of a data unit in a data packet is to be aborted. Upon a determination to abort an ongoing communication is made, a code-point in a data unit header is utilized to indicate the ongoing communication is to be aborted. A first class of code-point is a dedicated, predefined abort data unit field header. A second class of code-point is a combination of a set of existing, predefined data unit header fields, at least one data unit header field in the combination holds a value that is either invalid or legitimate yet unlikely to occur. Conveying code-point(s) to indicate termination of an ongoing communication of a data unit in a data packet in a regular communication mitigates transmission disruption and saves channel capacity. |
| US08687488B2 |
Information processing device and method
An information processing device includes: an encoding section that encodes image data to generate a codestream, the image data being to be transmitted to another information processing device; a controlling section that controls whether or not main data of the codestream is to be transmitted, on the basis of whether or not an amount of data of the codestream exceeds an allowable rate that is an upper limit value of a bitrate at which the codestream is flawlessly transmittable; a packetizing section that packetizes the codestream into packets when the amount of data of the codestream does not exceed the allowable rate and that packetizes only a header of the codestream when the amount of data of the codestream exceeds the allowable rate, in accordance with the control performed by the controlling section; and a transmitting section that transmits the packets to the another information processing device. |
| US08687486B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting a network access system
A system according to some embodiments of the invention includes (1) a component (e.g. ANDSF) that provides a cell selection rule to a UE and (2) a component (e.g. an access node) that provides the UE with information about the load in the cell currently utilized by the UE. This enables the UE to determine whether to leave the cell, which may be a 3GPP cell, and use a different cell, which may be a non-3GPP cell, by applying the cell selection rule in conjunction with its knowledge about the load of the cell. |
| US08687485B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing replay protection in systems using group security associations
A method and apparatus is disclosed which enables detection of undesired packets received at a device in a network, where the device is a member of a group of devices in the network. A registration table stores transform identifiers for each member of a group and controls the forwarding of the transform identifiers to the members of the group as members are added and deleted. A transform identifier indicates a format or transformation of a packet transmitted by an associated member. The transform identifier can therefore be used at a receiving device to distinguish between transmissions by different members of the group, thereby enabling the receiving device to extract sequence information associated with the member from the packet. The sequence information can be compared against an expected sequence number for the member to determine whether the packet is an undesirable or rogue packet. |
| US08687479B2 |
Methods and apparatus for channel estimation and rate feedback in a peer to peer network
Methods and apparatus for performing channel estimation and reporting back channel information or other information such as a suggested traffic transmission rate are described. A signal including a pilot signal of interest is received. Portions of the signal corresponding to the pilot signal are analyzed to determine if any of the portions, e.g., signal portions corresponding to individual tone symbols used to communicate the pilot signal, were subject to excessive interference, such as might be the result of collisions, rendering the signal portions unreliable. Signal sub-portions determined to be unreliable are excluded from a determination of the amount of pilot signal energy that was received. Signal interference is determined from a portion of the received signal on which the pilot signal was not transmitted. Channel information in the form of information and/or a suggested traffic rate may be reported back to the device which transmitted the pilot signal. |
| US08687478B2 |
Method and apparatus for band separation for multiband communication systems
Aspects of a method and apparatus for band separation for multiband communication systems are provided. One or more circuits for use in a transceiver may comprise a triplexer and a leakage processing module. The triplexer may comprise a multiband port, a Multimedia Over Coaxial Alliance (MoCA) port, a television upstream port, and a television downstream port. The leakage processing module may comprise a television downstream input port, a cable television downstream output port, a MoCA port, and a cable television upstream port. The leakage processing module may be operable to (1) process a MoCA signal to generate a first compensation signal; (2) process a cable upstream signal to generate a second compensation signal; (3) process a filtered signal based at least in part on the first and second compensation signals; and (4) output the processed filtered signal via the cable television downstream output port of said leakage processing module. |
| US08687476B2 |
Embedded virtual media
A method and an optical storage medium are provided for storing data to and accessing data from an embedded virtual medium within the optical storage medium. Information describing the embedded virtual medium may be stored on to the optical storage medium. Space for an embedded lead-in area of the embedded virtual medium, as well as user data for the embedded virtual medium, may be allocated within a data zone of the optical medium. A spare sector bitmap may be included in a lead-an area of the optical medium indicating spare sectors within the embedded virtual medium as being unavailable. A spare sector bitmap may be included within the embedded virtual medium indicating available spare sectors of the embedded virtual medium. Physical sector/logical block mapping of the optical storage medium may be modified for accessing data stored on the embedded virtual medium. |
| US08687475B2 |
Optical pickup device, optical pickup unit and data streamer apparatus
In one embodiment, an optical pickup device includes a fixed portion 100, a movable portion 11, first and second elastic supporting members 12a and 12b, one and the other ends of which are secured to the fixed portion 100 and the movable portion 11, respectively, and an objective lens 8 secured to the movable portion 11. The objective lens 8 is arranged inside of the area that is defined between two lines that are respectively drawn from one and the other ends of the first elastic supporting member 12a perpendicularly to the first elastic supporting member 12a and outside of the area defined between the first and second elastic supporting members 12a and 12b. |
| US08687468B2 |
Trick-action type clock
In a trick-action type clock, a part of an hour plate rotates along a plane parallel to a clock support plate. The trick-action type clock includes a first hour plate portion which is fixed to the clock support plate and has a circular shape, and a second hour plate portion which is rotated by a driving motor. The first hour plate portion includes an indicator needle shaft insertion portion which is provided at a position remote from a center of the first hour plate portion so as to insert an indicator needle shaft 101 therethrough. The second hour plate portion includes a circular notched hole which has a rotation center coincides with the center of the first hour plate portion with a circular shape and has the same shape as that of the first hour plate portion. |
| US08687466B2 |
Cell, element of ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic transducer including the same, and method of manufacturing cell of ultrasonic transducer
An element of an ultrasonic transducer includes a first substrate, at least one cell of the ultrasonic transducer arranged above the first substrate, and a second substrate arranged under the first substrate, in which a first power supply for applying an electric signal to the first substrate is formed. |
| US08687463B2 |
Method for processing at least two sets of seismic data
This invention relates to a method for processing at least two seismic data sets (10, 20), each data set comprising several seismic traces (i, j) grouped by bins (Bi, Bj) and by offset classes (Oi, Oj), the method including the following steps: calculating at least one attribute (a(i, j)) characteristic of a similarity between a first trace (i) of a first data set (10) and a second trace (j) of a second data set (20), selecting or not the first and second traces (i, j) according to a selection criterion applied to the calculated attribute (a(i, j)). |
| US08687462B2 |
Position determination of a seismic source array
A method of obtaining information about the positions of sources in a marine seismic source array that has N seismic sources, including at least Nunique types of sources that are nominally non-identical to one another, where 1≦Nunique≦N−1. The method comprises measuring the pressure field at M independent locations of the N sources, where M>Nunique, and obtaining information about the positions of sources from the M pressure measurements and from the constraint that at least two of the sources are nominally identical to one another. |
| US08687456B2 |
Multi-port memory based on DRAM core
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of N external ports, each of which receives commands, and an internal circuit which performs at least N access operations during a minimum interval of the commands that are input into one of the external ports. |
| US08687447B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and test method using the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a precharge voltage control unit configured to selectively output a bit line precharge voltage or a core voltage as a control voltage in response to a test signal; a bit line equalization unit configured to precharge a bit line to the control voltage; a sense amplifier driving control unit configured to generate a first voltage supply control signal, a second voltage supply control signal and a third voltage supply control signal in response to the test signal, a sense amplifier enable test signal, a first voltage supply signal, a second voltage supply signal and a third voltage supply signal; and a voltage supply unit configured to provide the core voltage, an external voltage and a ground voltage to a sense amplifier with an open bit line structure in response to the first to third voltage supply control signals. |
| US08687439B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and memory system including the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes one or more semiconductor chips configured to have predetermined capacity and structure; and a signal level control unit configured to control levels of external signals, which are input to the one or more semiconductor chips, in order to realize various capacities and structures using the one or more semiconductor chips. |
| US08687438B2 |
Method and apparatus of changing device identification codes of a memory integrated circuit device
In the disclosed technology, the device identification code of a memory integrated circuit is changeable. In some cases, multiple device identification codes are stored on the memory integrated circuit, and multiple device identification code selection data are stored on the memory integrated circuit. A device identification code register can store a selected device identification code. |
| US08687435B2 |
System and method for reducing pin-count of memory devices, and memory device testers for same
Methods, memory devices and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device receives command signals through the same input/output terminals that receive address signals and write data signals and transmit read data signals. The input/output terminals are connected to a multiplexer, which is responsive to a received mode control signal to couple the input/output terminals to either a command bus or an input/output bus. A latch in the memory device latches the command signals when the mode control signal causes the input/output terminals to be coupled to the input/output bus. As a result, the command signals continue to be applied to the command bus. When the mode control signal causes the input/output terminals to be coupled to the input/output bus, write data signals are clocked into the memory device and read data signals are clocked out of the memory device responsive to a received clock signal. |
| US08687432B2 |
Multi-bit resistive-switching memory cell and array
This invention proposes a multi-bit resistive-switching memory cell and array thereof. Multiple conduction paths are formed on each memory cell and independent of each other, and each conduction path can be in a high-resistance or low-resistance state, so as to form a multi-bit resistive-switching memory cell. A memory cell array can be formed by arranging a plurality of multi-bit resistive-switching memory cells, and the memory cell array provides a simple, high density, high performance and cost-efficient proposal. |
| US08687430B2 |
Analog sensing of memory cells with a source follower driver in a semiconductor memory device
Memory devices, methods, and sample and hold circuits are disclosed, including a memory device that includes a sample and hold circuit coupled to a bit line. One such sample and hold circuit includes a read circuit, a verify circuit, and a reference circuit. The read circuit stores a read threshold voltage that was read from a selected memory cell. The verify circuit stores a target threshold voltage that is compared to the read threshold voltage to generate an inhibit signal when the target and read threshold voltages are substantially equal. The reference circuit stores a reference threshold voltage that can be used to translate the read threshold voltage to compensate for a transistor voltage drop and/or temperature variations. |
| US08687428B2 |
Built-in self trim for non-volatile memory reference current
A non-volatile memory built-in self-trim mechanism is provided by which product reliability can be improved by minimizing drift of reference current used for accessing the non-volatile memory and for performing initial trimming of the reference current. Embodiments perform these tasks by using an analog-to-digital converter to provide a digital representation of the reference current (Iref) and then comparing that digital representation to a stored target range value for Iref and then adjusting a source of Iref accordingly. For a reference current generated by a NVM reference bitcell, program or erase pulses are applied to the reference cell as part of the trimming procedure. For a reference current generated by a bandgap-based circuit, the comparison results can be used to adjust the reference current circuit. In addition, environmental factors, such as temperature, can be used to adjust the measured value for the reference current or the target range value. |
| US08687426B2 |
Multi-semiconductor material vertical memory strings, strings of memory cells having individually biasable channel regions, memory arrays incorporating such strings, and methods of accesssing and forming the same
Multi-semiconductor vertical memory strings, strings of memory cells having individually biasable channel regions, arrays incorporating such strings and methods for forming and accessing such strings are provided. For example non-volatile memory devices are disclosed that utilize NAND strings of serially-connected non-volatile memory cells. One such string can include two or more serially connected non-volatile memory cells each having a channel region. Each memory cell of the two or more serially connected non-volatile memory cells shares a common control gate and each memory cell of the two or more serially connected non-volatile memory cells is configured to receive an individual bias to its channel region. |
| US08687424B2 |
NAND flash memory of using common P-well and method of operating the same
A flash memory using hot carrier injection and a method of operating the same are provided. A plurality of strings constituting a page are formed on a single p-well and share the p-well. During a program operation, a string selection transistor is turned off, and electrons are accumulated in a source or drain region in response to a bias voltage applied to the p-well. Thereafter, the accumulated electrons are trapped in a charge trap layer of a memory cell in response to a program voltage applied through a word line. Also, during an erase operation, holes accumulated in response to a bias voltage applied to the p-well are trapped in the charge trap layer in response to an erase voltage. The flash memory performs NAND-type program and erase operations using hot carrier injection. |
| US08687423B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of operating the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes a control logic configured to generate an internal command in response to an internal clock, a finite state machine configured to generate a plurality of current state signals in a program pulse and verify pulse setup operation for a program operation and a program verify operation in response to the internal command, after a program operation using a program pulse and a program verify operation using a program verify pulse are completed, and a glue logic configured to generate check control signals for checking a plurality of page buffers of the page buffer unit in response to the plurality of current state signals in the setup operation. |
| US08687422B2 |
Method for operating a NAND flash memory device in multiple operational modes
A method and device are provided for operating in a special mode using a special mode enable register. In one example, a memory device includes registers in volatile memory and a memory array. At least one of the registers may include a special mode bit that controls a special mode of operation of the memory device. |
| US08687420B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device which includes multi-bit memory cells that store multi-bit data and memory cells that store data of fewer bits then that of the multi-bit data. Thus, the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells which store n-bit (where n is a natural number that is equal to or larger than 2) data for one cell. Among the plurality of memory cells, h-bit (h≦n) data is stored in a memory MLC of a first region MLB, and i-bit (i |
| US08687419B2 |
Adjusting operational parameters for memory cells
Techniques and devices relating to adjusting one or more operational parameters for memory cells are provided. One such device may include a detection unit configured to perform one or more reading operations on a set of memory cells to determine an upper bound of the threshold voltages of the set of memory cells. The device may further include a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust one or more operational parameters for the set of memory cells based, at least in part, on the determined upper bound of the threshold voltages. Other techniques and devices are also provided. |
| US08687416B2 |
Signal processing circuit comprising buffer memory device
It is an object to provide a signal processing circuit for which a complex manufacturing process is not necessary and whose power consumption can be suppressed. In particular, it is an object to provide a signal processing circuit whose power consumption can be suppressed by stopping the power supply for a short time. The signal processing circuit includes a control circuit, an arithmetic unit, and a buffer memory device. The buffer memory device stores data sent from the main memory device or the arithmetic unit in accordance with an instruction from the control unit; the buffer memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells; and the memory cells each include a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region and a memory element to which charge whose amount depends on a value of the data is supplied via the transistor. |
| US08687415B2 |
Domain wall motion in perpendicularly magnetized wires having artificial antiferromagnetically coupled multilayers with engineered interfaces
Magnetic wires that include two antiferromagnetically coupled magnetic regions show improved domain wall motion properties, when the domain walls are driven by pulses of electrical current. The magnetic regions preferably include Co, Ni, and Pt and exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, thereby supporting the propagation of narrow domain walls. The direction of motion of the domain walls can be influenced by the order in which the wire's layers are arranged. |
| US08687414B2 |
Magnetic memory element and magnetic random access memory
A magnetic memory cell includes: a magnetization recording layer; and a magnetic tunneling junction section. The magnetization recording layer includes a ferromagnetic layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The magnetic tunneling junction section is used for reading information in the magnetization recording layer. The magnetization recording layer includes two domain wall moving areas. |
| US08687405B2 |
Phase change memory and method for fabricating phase change memory
A phase change memory includes an insulating layer on a substrate, an electrode layer having one pole and an electrode layer having another pole within the insulating layer, an opening portion whose lower portion on an upper portion of the insulating layer is substantially square or substantially rectangular, a phase change portion formed substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate along the respective sides of the lower portion of the opening portion, and two connection electrodes having a pole and connected to the phase change portion at two opposing corners of the lower portion of the opening portion connecting a diode portion connected to the electrode layer having one pole and the phase change portion, and two connection electrodes having another pole and connected to the phase change portion at the other two opposing corners connecting the phase change portion and the electrode layer having another pole. |
| US08687404B2 |
Memory element and drive method for the same, and memory device
A memory element capable of increasing capacity with an improvement of distribution of resistance in the high-resistance state, a drive method therefor, and a memory device are provided. The memory element includes first and second electrodes, and a plurality of resistance change elements electrically connected in series between the first and second electrodes, whose resistance values are reversibly changeable in response to application of a voltage to the first and second electrodes, and changeable to the same resistance state relative to the voltage application. |
| US08687403B1 |
Circuits having programmable impedance elements
An integrated circuit (IC) device may include a first portion having a plurality of volatile memory cells; and a second portion coupled by a data transfer path to the first portion, the second portion including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, each nonvolatile memory cell including at least one resistive element programmable more than once between different resistance values. A memory device may also include variable impedance elements accessible by access bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) having at least a portion formed by a semiconductor layer formed over a substrate. A memory device may also include a plurality of memory elements that each includes a dielectric layer formed between a first and second electrode, the dielectric layer including a solid electrolyte with a soluble metal having a mobility less than that of silver in a germanium disulfide. |
| US08687388B2 |
Three-phase soft-switched PFC rectifiers
A low input-current harmonic three-phase boost rectifier includes an input stage for receiving a three-phase input voltage in relation to a neutral node and an output stage adapted to couple to at least one load. The rectifier further includes one or more switching converter stages, each having a plurality of switches coupled to the neutral node, the plurality of switches operating with a fixed duty cycle, the fixed duty cycle being a substantially 50% duty cycle. The rectifier further includes one or more controllers adapted to vary the switching frequency of the plurality of switches based on at least one of a condition of the at least one load or the input voltage and includes one or more decoupling stages, each including one or more inductive elements adapted to inductively decouple the output stage from at least one of the one or more switching converter stages. |
| US08687386B2 |
Synchronous rectifier bi-directional current sensor
A method and apparatus for bi-directional current sensing for a synchronous rectifier bi-directional converter system is disclosed. A first current is measured through a first synchronous rectifier via a first transformer to provide a first signal. A second current is measured through a second force synchronous rectifier via a second transformer to provide a second signal. The first signal and the second signal are DC restored to provide a first DC restored signal and a second DC restored signal respectively. A first correction current is added to the first DC restored signal to produce a first corrected signal, and a second correction current is added to the second DC restored signal to produce a second corrected signal. The first corrected signal and the second corrected signal are added to produce a combined signal. |
| US08687384B2 |
Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device that includes a feedback terminal to which a feedback signal according to a load state is input, and a comparator which compares a terminal voltage of the feedback terminal with a reference voltage and determines whether the load state is a normal load state or a light load state. The switching power supply device also includes pull-up resistors which are connected to the feedback terminal, a switch element which switches resistance values of the pull-up resistors according to the change of the load state, and a switch element which switches the resistance values of the pull-up resistors according to whether the input voltage is high or low. |
| US08687374B2 |
Electronic controller for vehicle
An electronic controller for a vehicle includes a box-shaped frame having only one opened side that has a notch portion into which an electric connector whose connection port protrudes toward an outside fits and a cover that closes an opening of the frame, in which while a groove filled with a sealant is provided at least on a bonded surface of an electric connector to which the cover is bonded, a first convex portion that fits into the groove is provided in a circumferential portion of the cover. Moreover, the electric connector has a flange portion opposite to an inner wall of the frame around the notch portion, and the flange portion is provided with a second convex portion protruding toward the inner wall to surround the notch portion. |
| US08687373B2 |
Card structure, socket structure, and assembly structure thereof
A card structure includes a first element and a second element. The first element includes a first peripheral portion and a plurality of first contact points exposed by the first peripheral portion. The second element includes a second peripheral portion and a plurality of second contact points corresponding to the first contact points of the first element and exposed by the second peripheral portion. When the first and second elements are joined with each other, the first peripheral portion of the first element and the second peripheral portion of the second element are adjacent to each other, to juxtapose the first contact points of the first element and the second contact points of the second element to each other. The juxtaposed first and second contact points of the first and second elements are coupled to each other by a welding portion. |
| US08687372B2 |
Flexible circuit assembly with wire bonding
A flexible circuit assembly that includes a flexible circuit substrate. A spacer is attached to a first side surface of the substrate, and a die carrier is attached to the opposite side surface of the substrate. The die carrier includes one or more photonic die mounted thereon that face an opening formed through the substrate so that the photonic die transmits and/or receives optical signals through the opening. Wire bonds electrically connect the photonic die to an electrical pad on the first side surface of the substrate. The spacer helps to space the wire bonds from an optical connector that connects to the flexible circuit assembly, so that the wire bonds do not interfere with the mechanical connection between the flexible circuit assembly and the optical connector. |
| US08687358B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
The power conversion apparatus includes electronic components constituting a power conversion circuit, a cooler for cooling at least some of the electronic components, and a case housing the at least some of the electronic components and the cooler. The at least some of the electronic components and the cooler are fixed to and integrated in a frame as an internal unit. The frame has such a shape that at least some of the electronic components constituting the internal unit are disposed inside the frame. The frame includes a terminal block on which input/output terminals for inputting and outputting controlled power are mounted for providing connection between the input/output terminals and external devices. |
| US08687353B2 |
Electronic equipment
Electronic equipment is obtained, which is capable of regulating the arrangement position of a connection cable connected to an antenna module and preventing antenna properties from being degraded by a positional shift of the connection cable. The electronic equipment includes a housing, an antenna module placed in an end portion of the housing, and a connection cable connecting the antenna module to another electric circuit, wherein a guide groove accommodating the connection cable and regulating an arrangement position of the connection cable is formed on the housing. |
| US08687351B2 |
Scanning jacket for a handheld device
A jacket for a handheld device is disclosed. The jacket may include a housing including a receiving area for the handheld device. The housing may include an opening configured to align with a display surface of the handheld device and engaging structure disposed about the opening to engage at least a portion of the display surface of the handheld device when the device is disposed within the receiving area. The jacket may also include a connector member and a scanner. The connector member may connect to the handheld device when the handheld device is in the receiving area and the scanner may communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is connected to the connector member. |
| US08687349B2 |
Bulk transfer of storage devices using manual loading
A storage device transfer station is provided for transferring storage devices from a human operator to automated machinery for testing. The storage device transfer station includes a plurality of slots each capable of holding a storage device. The plurality of slots is arranged in at least one field, and the field is arranged between two parallel planes. Each slot has a first open end and a second open end, such that each open end is accessible for loading and unloading a storage device. The first open ends are accessible at a first plane of the two parallel planes and the second open ends are accessible at a second plane of the two parallel planes. |
| US08687342B2 |
Method of surface charge distribution
A lightning strike protection system for protecting composite structures, an improved lightning strike appliqué (LSA) for such a lightning strike protection system, and a method of protecting composite structures, such as an aircraft fuselage. The LSA is electrically connected to adjacent conductive surfaces, e.g., by a fuzz button or a wire bond inserted in the bottom of the LSA. An adjacent conductive surface may be another LSA, a lightning diverter overlay, or a current return network. Charge, e.g., from a lightning strike to the LSA, flows to the conductive layer through the electrical connector. |
| US08687341B2 |
Control circuit for electric unlocking devices using actuating solenoids
A system and method is provided for an enhanced and user friendly control circuit for an electric unlocking device, such as for example, an electric door strike or other unlocking devices utilizing actuating solenoids. The control circuit minimizes the potential for human error while also providing a small footprint, minimal DC in-rush current, over current protection, and minimized heat dissipation. Additionally, the present invention is directed to providing visual notification/diagnostics and improved field compatibility with existing electric unlocking devices. |
| US08687337B2 |
Over-current protection device
An over-current protection device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first grating electrode, a second grating electrode and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material layer. The first grating electrode and the second grating electrode are formed on the first substrate and are interlaced and spaced on a same plane. The PTC material layer is formed on the first substrate, the first grating electrode and the second grating electrode, and between the first grating electrode and the second grating electrode. In an embodiment, the first grating electrode and the second grating electrode serve as a current input port and a current output port, respectively. |
| US08687334B2 |
Power feeding circuit
A controller 43 turns on a semiconductor switch 41 in a normal mode, and turns off the semiconductor switch 41 in a sleep mode. A bypass resistor 5 is connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch 41. A resistance value of the bypass resister 5 is so large as that in the sleep mode, a dark current is supplied to an electronic device 3 via the bypass resistor 5, and if an electric wire downstream of the bypass resistor is short-circuited, an electric current more than a permissive current is prevented from flowing to the electric wire. |
| US08687332B2 |
Transistor circuit with protecting function
The present invention provides a transistor circuit with protecting function. The transistor circuit includes a transistor, a voltage detecting unit, a current detecting unit, a temperature detecting unit, and a protecting unit. The voltage detecting unit detects a voltage drop of the transistor and generates an over-voltage protection signal. The current detecting signal detects a current flowing through the transistor and generates an over-current protection signal. The temperature detecting unit detects a temperature of the transistor circuit and generates an over-temperature protection signal. The protecting unit is coupled to the control terminal to control a state of the transistor according to the over-voltage protection signal, the over-current protection signal, and the over-temperature protection signal to reduce the voltage difference between the control terminal and the second terminal, such that the voltage drop of the transistor is decreased or decreased to zero. |
| US08687330B2 |
Semiconductor device
The invention provides a low cost semiconductor device with which it is possible to easily select IGBT soft shutdown characteristics appropriate to a system.The drive IC (100) is configured of an output stage circuit (1), a shutdown circuit (2), a logic circuit (3), and an alarm signal processing circuit (4), the shutdown circuit (2) is configured of a resistor circuit (5) and an n-MOSFET (8), and the resistor circuit (5) is formed by an n-MOSFET (9), a resistor (10), and a switching conductor (11). By switching the switching conductor (11) of the resistor circuit (5) among A, B, and C conditions, it is possible to easily select shutdown characteristics of an IGBT (61) appropriate to a system. |
| US08687326B2 |
Short circuit protecting device and method thereof for DC-DC converter with soft-start function
The invention discloses a short circuit protecting device adapted to a DC-DC converter with a soft-start function, and a voltage output terminal of the DC-DC converter increases an output current in segments in multiple time periods after the DC-DC converter is started. The short circuit protecting device including a voltage sensor connected to the voltage output terminal to sense the output voltage; a start timer generating a enable signal in a predetermined period after the DC-DC converter is started; a comparison circuit connected to the voltage sensor and the start timer and comparing the output voltage with a predetermined voltage according to the enable signal. The sum of the time period is a startup time of the DC-DC converter, and the startup time is longer than the predetermined period. When the output voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage, a comparison circuit outputs a control signal to stop the DC-DC converter. |
| US08687325B2 |
Micro-electromechanical switch protection in series parallel topology
An electrical switching device is presented. The electrical switching device includes multiple switch sets coupled in series. Each of the switch sets includes multiple switches coupled in parallel. A control circuit is coupled to the multiple switch sets and configured to control opening and closing of the switches. One or more intermediate diodes are coupled between the control circuit and each point between a respective pair of switch sets. |
| US08687322B1 |
Magnetic recording head and disk drive including the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head of a disk drive includes a main pole configured to generate a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a recording layer of a recording medium, a write shield magnetic pole opposite to a trailing side of the main pole with a gap, a coil configured to excite a magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit, and a high-frequency oscillator provided between a tip portion of the main pole on a side of the recording medium and the write shield magnetic pole to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The write shield magnetic pole includes an end face opposite to the high-frequency oscillator and the end face is formed so that a distance from the main pole increases with an increasing distance from the recording medium. |
| US08687319B2 |
Magnetic recording apparatus with magnetic recording head capable of recording information on a magnetic recording medium
A spin torque oscillator for microwave assisted recording includes a perpendicular free layer having a magnetic anisotropy axis in a direction perpendicular to a film surface, and an in-plane free layer composed of a magnetic film effectively having a magnetization easy plane on a film surface. When electric currents flows from the in-plane free layer side to the perpendicular free layer side, both free layers exchange spin information and thereby rotate their respective magnetizations almost antiparallel to each other and along a boundary surface with high-speed. Preferably, the perpendicular free layer is thinner than the in-plane free layer. It is also preferable that a magnetic anisotropy field of the perpendicular free layer attributable to materials should balance, in reverse directions, with an effective demagnetizing field in the perpendicular direction. Furthermore, the perpendicular free layer is preferably placed on the main pole side. |
| US08687318B2 |
Recording head coil structure
A recording head comprising a write pole and a coil structure asymmetric with respect to the write pole and configured to generate more magnetic flux on a trailing side of the main pole than the magnetic flux on a front side of the main pole. |
| US08687314B2 |
Methods for fast center calibration of a tape drive for a flangeless tape path
According to one embodiment, a method includes sensing a first servo sensor while a longitudinal tape is moved in a first direction; determining position error between the magnetic head and a desired position related to the at least one defined servo track; providing signals to operate a fine actuator to translate the magnetic head laterally in a manner to reduce the determined position error; calculating a first average position of the magnetic head for at least one first run-out cycle while the longitudinal tape is moved in the first direction; calculating a first offset of the magnetic head while the longitudinal tape is moved in the first direction; operating a coarse actuator to position the coarse actuator substantially at a target position using the first offset and the first average position. |
| US08687313B2 |
Disk drive mapping out data tracks to avoid thermal asperities
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein the head comprises a write element and a read element. An asperity in a target data track is detected, and a range of data tracks proximate the target data track is mapped out, wherein the range of data tracks spans at least twice a radial offset between the read element and the write element at the radial location of the target data track. |
| US08687312B1 |
Edge detection for disk drives
A process is disclosed for determining one or more edges of usable portions of a disk drive. Such knowledge can be used to determine the range of valid tracks of the disk and improve utilization of available disk space. The process can detect the edges by processing one or more disk controller signals, such as an adaptive feed-forward (AFC) injection signal, or a position error signal (PES). |
| US08687310B1 |
Iterative decoding using adaptive feedback
An apparatus comprises read channel circuitry and signal processing circuitry associated with the read channel circuitry. The signal processing circuitry is configured to: equalize a digital data signal; align the equalized digital data signal; determine a detector reliability metric based at least in part on the aligned equalized digital data signal; perform an iterative decoding process to determine a decoded digital data signal using the detector reliability metric; adjust the aligned equalized digital data signal using the decoded digital data signal; and repeat at least determining the detector reliability metric and performing the iterative decoding process using the adjusted equalized digital data signal. |
| US08687309B2 |
Magnetic recording media and magnetic recording system
This invention provides a magnetic recording medium excellent in terms of corrosion resistance. The magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic recording layer, a protective layer and a lubricant layer provided on a nonmagnetic substrate, and the lubricant layer comprises a compound having a heterocyclic ring. |
| US08687307B1 |
Disk drive detecting gas leaking from head disk assembly
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head disk assembly (HDA) filled with a gas, the HDA comprising a head actuated over a disk, and an electrical heating element. A pressure inside the HDA is measured, and the electrical heating element is heated for a first heating time. A rate of temperature change of the electrical heating element is measured, and the gas leaking from the HDA is detected in response to the pressure and the rate of temperature change. |
| US08687306B1 |
Systems and methods for improving sequential data rate performance using sorted data zones
Systems and methods for writing a sequence of data to a disk drive using sorted data zones are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-head disk drive comprises a plurality of disk surfaces, wherein each disk surface comprises a plurality of data zones, each data zone having a data transfer rate different from the other zones of the respective disk surface. The multi-head disk drive also comprises a head assembly comprising a plurality of heads, wherein each head is configured to write data to a respective one of the disk surfaces, and a controller configured to operate the plurality of heads to sequentially write a sequence of data blocks to the plurality of disk surfaces in accordance with a list of head-zone combinations ordered from highest data rate to lowest data rate, each head-zone combination corresponding to one of the heads and a data zone of the respective disk surface. |
| US08687302B2 |
Reference voltage circuit for adaptive power supply
Interface circuitry of a storage device or other type of processing device comprises at least one data path, and an adaptive power supply configured to provide a variable supply voltage to the data path. The adaptive power supply comprises a reference voltage circuit having a plurality of field effect transistors collectively configured to provide a variable reference voltage, with different ones of the field effect transistors being biased into different operating regions. For example, a first subset of the field effect transistors may each be biased into a linear region such that the variable reference voltage tracks variations in on-resistance of one or more corresponding field effect transistors of the data path, and a second subset of the field effect transistors may each be biased into a saturation region such that the variable reference voltage tracks variations in threshold voltage of the corresponding field effect transistors of the data path. |
| US08687299B1 |
Bayonet attachment mechanisms
An attachment mechanism includes a compliance member positioned between a body and bayonets. The bayonets collectively define an aperture therebetween. Alignment members prevent rotation of the bayonets relative to the body while allowing the bayonets to move radially outwardly against the compliance member. When a second attachment mechanism is received in the aperture of the first attachment mechanism, relative rotation therebetween may interlock corresponding bayonets thereof. The attachment mechanisms may release from one another in a drop event or other incidence of force applied thereto by allowing a bayonet to radially move outwardly out of contact with a corresponding bayonet of the second attachment mechanism. Related methods are also provided. |
| US08687297B2 |
Lens actuating module
A lens actuating module for realizing focus adjustment and optical zooming. The lens actuating module includes a rod which is disposed on one side of a lens barrel on which at least one lens is mounted, and has an axis direction corresponding to an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a driving force transmission member which has a conjoining recess to be conjoined with an outside surface of the rod and has magnetism so as to be conjoined with the outside surface of the rod due to a magnetic force, and a piezoelectric actuator which is disposed on one side of the driving force transmission member in the optical axis direction to provide an axis direction driving force to the rod via the driving force transmission member. |
| US08687296B2 |
Driving mechanism, lens barrel, and camera
A driving mechanism includes a first piezoelectric element that vibrates in a thickness-shear vibration mode in a first direction, a first member that is driven to vibrate in the first direction by the first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element that is supported by the first member and that vibrates in the thickness-shear vibration mode in a second direction, and a second member that is driven to vibrate in the second direction by the second piezoelectric element. |
| US08687295B2 |
Apparatus for adjusting optical element
An apparatus for adjusting an optical element includes at least one optical element for passing light, an adjustment frame coupled to an edge of the optical element, a lens barrel supporting a rear side of the adjustment frame, an elastic support unit arranged between the adjustment frame and the lens barrel and providing an elastic force to the adjustment frame, and at least one axial adjustment unit coupled to the lens barrel by penetrating the adjustment frame and the elastic support unit and adjusting a position of the adjustment frame in an axial direction. |
| US08687293B2 |
Optical imaging system
An optical imaging system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element with a positive refractive power, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element with a positive refractive power having an aspheric surface and a fifth lens element with a negative refractive power. An image-side surface of the fifth lens element is concave, and at least one of two surfaces of the fifth lens element is aspheric. The relationship between a sum of thicknesses of all lens elements with refractive powers on an optical axis and a distance on the optical axis between an object-side surface of the first lens element and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element in the optical imaging system can effectively reduce the total length as well as the sensitivity of the optical imaging system while gaining superior resolution. |
| US08687289B2 |
Projection objective and projection exposure apparatus with negative back focus of the entry pupil
The disclosure concerns a projection objective, which can include an object plane in which an object field is formed, an entry pupil, a mirrored entry pupil (RE) in a mirrored entry pupil plane obtained by mirroring the entry pupil (VE) at the object plane, an image plane, an optical axis, at least a first mirror and a second mirror. The projection objective can have a negative back focus of the entry pupil, and a principal ray originating from a central point of the object field and traversing the objective from the object plane to the image plane can intersect the optical axis in at least one point of intersection, wherein the geometric locations of all points of intersection lie between the image plane and the mirrored entry pupil plane. |
| US08687286B2 |
Meso-optic device
A meso-optic device (1) includes a substantially annular meso-optic body (100) including an axis of revolution (2), a divergent conic optical surface (112) substantially coaxial with the axis of revolution (2), with the divergent conic optical surface (112) configured to receive electromagnetic radiation propagating along an optical axis (3) from an impingent direction, wherein the optical axis (3) is coincident with or intersects the axis of revolution (2), and with the divergent conic optical surface (112) configured to divergently re-direct the electromagnetic radiation away from the axis of revolution (2), and a convergent conic optical surface (114) substantially coaxial with the axis of revolution (2), with the convergent conic optical surface (114) configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation divergently re-directed by the divergent conic optical surface (112) and with the convergent conic optical surface (114) configured to convergently re-direct the electromagnetic radiation toward the axis of revolution (2). |
| US08687284B2 |
Lens apparatus
A lens apparatus has an image pickup optical system including a focus lens and a zoom lens, a focus detector, a defocus amount calculating unit, and a controller. The focus detector detects a focus state of the image pickup optical system. The defocus amount calculation unit calculates a defocus amount based on the detected focus state. The controller calculates a driving amount necessary to drive the focus lens to a focus position based on the calculated defocus amount. The controller controls the driving of the focus lens. In particular, the controller controls a driving speed of the focus lens depending on the calculated defocus amount and the calculated driving amount. |
| US08687281B2 |
Liquid optics image stabilization
A lens system suitable for use with a camera is disclosed. The lens system employs liquid optics to provide stabilization of an image. A pair of liquid lens cells provides stabilization of the image. A second pair of liquid lens cells may provide stabilization in another direction. The two pairs of liquid cells may provide stabilization in any direction. |
| US08687278B2 |
Opto-mechanical switch
An opto-mechanical switch produces different optical paths from two optical path sections out of a plurality of optical path sections that are oriented in different spatial directions. The switch has an optical component on which one end of each optical path section impinges, and which is adapted to be moved linearly in a direction of movement at right angles to the optical path sections between different switching positions, in which it selectively couples different optical path sections optically with each other. Further provided is a measuring system for the analysis of fluids, having such an opto-mechanical switch. |
| US08687276B2 |
Optical system with optical image stabilization using a MEMS mirror
An optical system with optical image stabilization of the present invention compensates the movement of the optical system occurring during imaging process using a Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) unit having an MEMS mirror to stabilize an image of an object formed on an image plane. A micro-actuator with the in-plane translation makes the MEMS mirror have a required rotation to change optical paths of light from the object to the image plane for optical image stabilization. The optical system with optical image stabilization or the present invention provides fast speed, light weight, simple operation, and high image quality image stabilization for the optical system. |
| US08687275B2 |
Curved retarder-based optical filters
Curved polarization filters and methods of manufacturing such filters. The method includes laminating a planar polarization layer to a planar retarder layer at a predetermined orientation and bending the laminate to create a curved filter. The strain on the retarder layer results in stress-induced birefringence, and the predetermined orientation of the retarder substantially compensates for the stress-induced birefringence. In some embodiments, the predetermination is based on mathematical models. In some other embodiment, the predetermination is based on experimental data. |
| US08687270B2 |
Multi-pass amplifier architecture for high power laser systems
A main amplifier system includes a first reflector operable to receive input light through a first aperture and direct the input light along an optical path. The input light is characterized by a first polarization. The main amplifier system also includes a first polarizer operable to reflect light characterized by the first polarization state. The main amplifier system further includes a first and second set of amplifier modules. Each of the first and second set of amplifier modules includes an entrance window, a quarter wave plate, a plurality of amplifier slablets arrayed substantially parallel to each other, and an exit window. The main amplifier system additionally includes a set of mirrors operable to reflect light exiting the first set of amplifier modules to enter the second set of amplifier modules and a second polarizer operable to reflect light characterized by a second polarization state. |
| US08687269B2 |
Opto-electronic device
An optical amplifier has a low polarization dependent gain. The amplifier includes a gain medium including a plurality of adjoining semiconductor layers to provide optical gain wherein the adjoining semiconductor layers define one or more quantum wells for electrons and are operative to provide both direct and indirect electron-hole transitions in the gain medium. A first quantized electron energy level in the conduction band and a first quantized hole energy level in the valence band is located in a first layer. A further first quantized hole energy level in the valence band is located in an adjacent second layer. |
| US08687266B2 |
Display device driven by electric field
The present invention relates to an electric-field drive display device. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electric-field drive display device comprises: a first substrate; a first electrode which is formed on the first substrate; a second electrode which is formed on the first substrate and is disposed in parallel with the first electrode; a drive partition wall which is formed on the first electrode and the second electrode and has a plurality of opening and closing holes; and a plurality of drive bodies which are disposed inside each of the opening and closing holes. Consequently, the electric-field drive display device according to one embodiment of the present invention can adjust the amount of light transmitted and so display the desired image by adjusting the positions of the drive bodies in the horizontal direction through the use of electrical force. |
| US08687265B2 |
Methods of operating a display device
Provided are methods of operating display devices. The method includes applying a first electric field to a capsule including first particles having a first color and second particles having a second color to move the first and second particles into a first region of the capsule; and applying a second electric field to the capsule to move the second particles into a second region of the capsule different from the first region and to leave the first particles in the first region of the capsule. |
| US08687262B2 |
Ion conductor and electrochromic display device
An ion conductor includes a mixture including an electrolyte including a salt including inorganic or organic pairs of negative and positive ions, and a low-molecular liquid crystal material. Further, an impedance of the ion conductor varies in accordance with an increase of a voltage applied to the ion conductor due to an orientation response of the low-molecular liquid crystal material, the impedance being determined by an AC impedance method. |
| US08687259B2 |
Polymerisable LC material and polymer film with negative optical dispersion
The invention relates to a polymerizable LC material with negative optical dispersion, a polymer film with negative optical dispersion obtainable from such a material, and the use of the polymerizable LC material and polymer film in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices. |
| US08687258B2 |
Variable transmittance optical filter and uses thereof
Variable transmittance optical filters capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage are provided. The optical filters comprise a switching material that comprises one or more chromophores that have electrochromic and photochromic properties. |
| US08687256B2 |
Lens barrier device and lens barrel equipped with the same
A lens barrier device includes a first barrier blade including a shielding portion, a connection portion, and an abutment portion. The abutment portion is connected, on an optical axis imaging surface side of the shielding portion, to the shielding portion via the connecting portion. Further, a second barrier blade is provided on an optical axis imaging surface side with respect to the shielding portion. A regulating portion is provided whose optical axis imaging surface side is configured to contact the abutment portion, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the second barrier blade, the connecting portion, and the abutment portion are located in this order from an optical axis center to an optical axis outer side. |
| US08687254B2 |
Optical filter and optical module having optical filter
An optical filter comprising a first substrate, a first mirror formed on the first substrate, a second substrate coupled to the first substrate, the second substrate including a concave portion, and a second mirror formed on the concave portion and facing the first mirror, wherein the first substrate includes a first portion located on the first mirror, a second portion located around the first portion, a third portion located around the second portion, and a fourth portion located around the third portion, wherein both a thickness of the second portion and a thickness of the fourth portion are equal to or smaller than a thickness of the first portion. |
| US08687253B2 |
Speckle noise reduction based on longitudinal shift of sample
A method and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in an image of an object are disclosed. The method includes, placing the object in an interferometer at a first position along a beam path of an object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam, moving the object from the first position to a second position by longitudinally shifting the object along the beam path of the object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam at the second position. At each of the first and second positions a holographic image formed by interference between the object beam and a reference beam is recorded. An object image with reduced speckle noise is obtained by averaging the holographic images. Either an arithmetic mean or a weighted average may be used in the averaging of the holographic images. |
| US08687252B2 |
Device for light modulation
In known light modulation means, complex phase and amplitude values for modulating light waves are implemented and modulated either separately by two different light modulation means or a light modulation means having two layers of double-refracting materials, leading to increased expenses for material and adjustment. A new device is disclosed that simplifies the modulation of light waves in phase and amplitude in a single light modulation means made of double-refracting material. In a device having regularly disposed, controllable light-modulated elements having a double-refracting material for complex modulation of coherent light waves, and a modulation controller controlling the force-induced alignment of the optical axes of the molecules of the double-refracting material, means are provided for independently aligning the optical axes of the molecules in the light-modulating elements in two dimensions. The alignment can take place by electrical, magnetic, or optical acting means. |
| US08687251B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program, and recording medium
An optimal interval obtaining sheet is output, and the density thereon is measured using a color meter. A layout determining unit determines an optimal interval at which patches are to be arranged on a sheet including a plurality of patches having the same color and the same gradation based on the measurement. |
| US08687245B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a first transparent section to have a first original sheet set thereon, a second transparent section to have a second original sheet conveyed by a sheet conveyer, a reader unit being movable in a sub-scanning direction to read the image on the original sheet being set on the first transparent section and to be maintained still to read the image being conveyed by the sheet conveyer, a white reference member, of which image is read by the reader unit and recognized as a reference white color, and a light reductive member arranged on an inner bottom of a casing to reduce an amount of incident light. |
| US08687244B2 |
Image reading apparatus, method of controlling the apparatus and storage medium
In a case where it is determined after reading an original that an abnormal pixel is included in image data generated by reading the original, after the original is reversed by a reversing unit for re-reading of the original by a reading unit, the original is conveyed to a reading position of the reading unit and image data generated by the re-reading of the reading unit is corrected. |
| US08687242B2 |
Image processing apparatus for obtaining image data comprising a code generation section, an encryption section, a pattern generation section, and an addition section
In a digital multi-function peripheral, a QR code generation section generates image data of a QR code on the basis of first data for security of obtained image data. An encryption section encrypts second data for security of the image data. A micro gradation generation section generates a micro gradation (a gradation pattern) on the basis of the second data having been encrypted by the encryption section and history data, and adds the micro gradation to the image data of the QR code generated by the micro gradation QR code generation section. |
| US08687239B2 |
Relevance based print integrity verification
A relevance based print integrity method includes comparing current raster image data that define a document to be printed with golden raster image data that define a previous version of said document with a known (perfect) quality. A plurality of differences between said current raster image data and said golden raster image data are calculated, and each of the differences is processed to determine a relevance value of the difference and to assign the relevance value to the difference. The method includes generating and storing a list of the differences, wherein the list is ordered in terms of the relevance value assigned to each difference. The difference list is presented to a user textually or graphically and/or is used to control or interrupt printing operations. |
| US08687237B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus that changes pixel value of pixel of interest when trapping processing is determined
An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. A characteristic value calculator calculates characteristic values of a preset area set around a pixel of interest. A trapping determining unit determines, for each color plane of an N-valued image, on the basis of the calculated characteristic values, whether the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing. A pixel value calculator sets, for each color plane, a position of a reference pixel in a reference area, and calculates a pixel value for changing the pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of a pixel value of each color plane at the position of the reference pixel. A pixel-of-interest value changing unit changes the pixel value of the pixel of interest into the calculated pixel value when the trapping determining unit determines that the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing. |
| US08687232B2 |
Function execution device
A function execution device connected to at least one other device includes: a memory storing a plurality of setting values corresponding to a plurality of setting items; an execution portion executing a function by using the plurality of setting values; a screen data supply portion supplying, to a display device, device screen data for showing a device screen, on which a user selects a target device from the at least one other device, and item screen data for showing an item screen, on which the user selects at least one setting item from the plurality of setting items; an acquisition portion that acquires device information about the target device; and a transmission portion transmitting, to the target device, at least one setting value corresponding to the at least one setting item selected by the user on the item screen, among the plurality of setting values stored in the memory. |
| US08687229B2 |
Image scanning apparatus and method which controls time and intensity of light emitting elements
An image scanning apparatus and method. The image scanning apparatus which scans an image of document includes a light source including at least three light emitting elements of red, green, and blue, which are sequentially lit up at intervals of a first time, a light emitting time control unit to control a light emitting time of the at least three light emitting elements such that the first time is shorter than a second time by a predetermined value, a sensor array to transform an image formed by light reflected from the document into an electric signal according to results of the control of the light emitting time and the light intensity, and an output unit to output image data corresponding to the transformed electric signal. |
| US08687225B2 |
Memory management during simplex and duplex printing with an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rendering processing unit for generating rendering data by sequentially performing a rendering process on units of printing data corresponding to a job and storing the rendering data in a first area, an image processing unit for generating image data by sequentially performing an image process on units of rendering data in the page unit and storing the image data in a second area, an output control unit for outputting the image data in an order, and a memory full detection unit for detecting, if the output of subject units of the image data is incomplete when a specific time elapses since the rendering process on the subject units of the job is completed and only a part or all of the subject units of the image data are stored in the second area, that an image data storage amount exceeds an acceptable amount. |
| US08687224B2 |
Server apparatus, image forming system, and management method of image forming data
According to one embodiment, a server apparatus includes a storage unit, a transfer unit, and a management unit. The storage unit stores user identification information and an extension condition with information indicating a print job. If the transfer unit receives an inquiry of a print job including user information from an image forming apparatus, the transfer unit transfers the print job corresponding to the user information included in the inquiry to the image forming apparatus as the inquiry sending source from among the print jobs stored in the storage unit. The management unit deletes a print job, to which an extension condition was added, from among the print jobs stored in the storage unit after the elapse time from the print job receiving time point exceeds the preservation period and the extension condition is then further exceeded. |
| US08687223B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method utilizing efficient memory regions
An image processing method includes storing image data in a storage unit; setting a common region in the storage unit, the common region including an input image data storage region and an output image data storage region; sequentially storing the image data that is compressed at a preset compression ratio in the input image data storage region; sequentially expanding the image data stored in the input image data storage region; temporarily storing the expanded image data in the output image data storage region; and controlling allocation of the input image data storage region and the output image data storage region in the common region. In an embodiment, the allocation of the input image data storage region and the output image data storage region in the common region may be determined depending on the compression ratio of the sequentially inputted image data. |
| US08687221B1 |
Creating a printed material inspection script and inspecting printed material according to a script
Embodiments of the present invention include a method, an apparatus, a system, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible media to carry out a method. The method in some versions forms a script that is usable by an inspection system for inspecting printed material produced according to a printing workflow. The method in some versions inspects printed material produced according to a printing workflow, the inspecting including executing a script. |
| US08687218B2 |
Printing system, device management server, information processing method, and storage medium for creating a screen for setting print setting information about a function based on printing device configuration data and print setting data
When a print server apparatus receives a service utilization request that includes setting identification information, printing device identification information, and service provision unit identification information, the print server apparatus transmits to a device management server apparatus print setting data identified based on the setting identification information, the printing device identification information, and location information indicating a location of the service provision unit identified based on the service provision unit identification information. The device management server apparatus creates a screen for setting print setting information of a function that can be executed by the printing device based on configuration data about the printing device identified based on the printing device identification information and the print setting data, associates the location information with a predetermined object included in the screen, and transmits the screen. |
| US08687212B2 |
Method for protecting content of a fax confirmation sheet
What is provided are a system, method, and computer program product for protecting information displayed on a fax confirmation page. Several embodiments are provided. In one embodiment, for example, a Gaussian kernel is used to blur the digitized image to be printed on the confirmation page. In one method, a large enough blur kernel is selected so that text of a certain size will be rendered illegible. A method is also provided wherein a copy of the first page of the faxed document used to provide the content to be displayed on the confirmation page of the faxed document is stored on a storage device. A character sequence which references the stored original content on the storage media is printed on the confirmation page. A new confirmation page can be reconstructed and printed if it is desirable to have the altered content made visibly legible. Various other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08687211B2 |
Image forming apparatus that displays plural pages of document images in three-dimensional preview presentation
In an image forming apparatus including a control unit made of a display panel and a touch panel display for providing preview display, the touch panel display includes: a finished state preview controller for displaying the finished state of a hard copy formed by the image forming apparatus, on the display panel; and a confirmatory display controller for displaying preview images for confirmation in a turning manner. The display panel includes a first display area for displaying the finished state of the hard copy, a second display area for displaying a image of the page to be turned for confirmation and a third display area for displaying the images that have been displayed for confirmation, in order in a layered manner. |
| US08687210B2 |
Document data access
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for accessing data from electronic documents stored as print streams are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic document conforming to one of a plurality of print formats is obtained. The electronic document is parsed according to the one of the plurality of print formats to generate an intermediate data structure conforming to an intermediate format such that the electronic document is converted to the intermediate format, wherein the intermediate format is different from the plurality of print formats. One or more rules are applied to obtain data for a plurality of regions of the electronic document from the intermediate data structure. The data for the plurality of regions of the electronic document that has been obtained from the intermediate data structure is stored or provided, thereby enabling a report to be generated using at least a portion of the data for the plurality of regions that has been stored or provided. |
| US08687208B2 |
Printing control apparatus and printing control method
When the processing of process steps of a print job that includes job definition information showing the process steps of a printing process and information relating to drawing data used in printing is executed by devices, a printing control apparatus connected to the devices determines whether the processing content of a target print job has been changed by the devices from a processing content defined by the job definition information, and, if determined that the processing content has been changed, collects the job definition information defining the changed processing content. |
| US08687198B2 |
Coupled cavity dispersion enhanced ring laser gyroscope
A ring laser gyroscope includes active cavity containing gain medium, first reflective surfaces coupled to active cavity, medium exciter to excite gain medium, second reflective surfaces coupled to first passive cavity, and third reflective surfaces coupled to second passive cavity. Excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within active cavity. First plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, second, and third reflective surfaces that reflect light within active cavity. Second plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, fourth, and fifth reflective surfaces that reflect light within first passive cavity. Third plurality of reflective surfaces includes fourth, sixth, and seventh reflective surfaces that reflect light within second passive cavity. First and fourth reflective surfaces are partially transmissive such that they both transmit and reflect light. Second or third cavities induce frequency dependent phase shift on light traveling through ring laser gyroscope causing anomalous dispersion of first and second laser fields passing through gain medium. |
| US08687197B2 |
Method of monitoring progress of substrate polishing and polishing apparatus
A method of monitoring progress of polishing of a substrate having at least two regions including a first region and a second region with different structures is provided. The method includes: applying light to plural measurement points on the substrate during polishing of the substrate; receiving reflected light from each measurement point; measuring intensity of the reflected light; producing a spectrum of the reflected light from the intensity; classifying the spectrum as spectrum of the reflected light from the first region or as spectrum of the reflected light from the second region based on a shape of the spectrum or the intensity of the reflected light; and monitoring progress of polishing of the substrate based on a temporal change in the spectrum of the reflected light from the first region. |
| US08687196B2 |
Composite panel having integrated rain sensor
A composite pane arrangement, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided with a composite pane that includes, but is not limited to at least two panes connected with each other by an intermediate layer, and with at least one optical sensor device for the optical detection of moisture on an outer surface of the composite pane facing away from the intermediate layer. The optical sensor device is arranged between the two panes and is electrically contacted by means of transparent, laminar conductive traces. |
| US08687195B2 |
Optical measurement apparatus and chip lifetime judgment method
An optical measurement apparatus including a light irradiation portion configured to irradiate light onto a sample flowing through a flow path in a detachable chip; a light detection portion configured to detect optical information emitted from the sample when irradiated with the light by the light irradiation portion; and a judgment portion configured to judge an exchange period of the chip based on the optical information detected by the light detection portion. |
| US08687192B2 |
Through silicon imaging and probing
Through silicon imaging and probing. A light source provides unpolarized light to be projected on a device under test (DUT). Light reflected from the DUT may be captured by a camera or other image capture device. A pellicle is utilized to reflect light from the light source toward the DUT. The pellicle also passes light reflected by the DUT to the camera. One or more linear polarizers or half wave plates may be used to provide the desired light polarization. The ability to provide the desired polarization provides an improved image that can be captured by the camera. |
| US08687189B2 |
Analysis of arrays by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
The present invention relates to the detection of materials using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This invention discloses methods to draw the analyte of interest in a homogeneous matrix and subsequent analysis of these matrices, wherein the said matrices are preferably arranged in an array format. This invention is particularly applicable to analysis of Liquid samples arranged in an array format. |
| US08687188B2 |
Metallic nanoparticles and methods for their preparation and use
Provided herein are Raman active particles and methods for their preparation and use. The particles can include a SERS-active material that is at least partially encased within a spherical porous hollow casing. In some embodiments, this can be especially advantageous when employed for water analysis and/or being employed in combination with silica particles. |
| US08687186B2 |
Nanowire-based systems for performing raman spectroscopy
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to nanowire-based systems for performing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In one embodiment, a system comprises a substrate having a surface and a plurality of tapered nanowires disposed on the surface. Each nanowire has a tapered end directed away from the surface. The system also includes a plurality of nanoparticles disposed near the tapered end of each nanowire. When each nanowire is illuminated with light of a pump wavelength, Raman excitation light is emitted from the tapered end of the nanowire to interact with the nanoparticles and produce enhanced Raman scattered light from molecules located in close proximity to the nanoparticles. |
| US08687185B2 |
Device and method for optical parallel analysis of a sample arrangement and corresponding manufacturing method
A device and a method for optical parallel analysis of a sample arrangement. The device includes a system of sample areas provided on and/or in a front face of the carrier substrate for receiving a sample substance; a system of detector areas provided on and/or in a back face of the carrier substrate, each detector area being assigned to a corresponding sample area; and a system of optical devices, each optical system being assigned to a corresponding sample area and being designed in such a way that it deflects light beams, which the corresponding sample area in response to an optical excitation does not emit in the direction of a detector area assigned to it, in the direction of the detector area assigned to it and/or in the direction of a detector-free area on the back face of the carrier substrate. |
| US08687182B2 |
Surface inspection apparatus and surface inspection method
A surface inspection apparatus and a surface inspection method aim to securely deal with finer repetition pitch without shortening the wavelength of illumination light. To this end, the apparatus includes a unit illuminating repetitive pattern(s) formed on the substrate surface to be inspected with linearly polarized light, a unit setting to an oblique angle an angle between the direction of an intersecting line of a vibration plane of the linearly polarized light on the substrate surface and the repetition direction of repetitive pattern(s), a unit extracting a polarized light component perpendicular to the vibration plane of the linearly polarized light, from light having been emitted from the repetitive pattern(s) in a specular direction, and a unit detecting a defect of the repetitive pattern(s) according to the light intensity of the polarized light component. |
| US08687181B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing light-emitting device
Disclosed is a method for testing a light-emitting device comprising the steps of: providing a light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes; driving the plurality of the light-emitting diodes with current; generating an image of the light-emitting device; and determining a luminous intensity of each of the light-emitting diodes with the image. An apparatus for testing a light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a current source to provide a current to drive the plurality of the light-emitting diodes; an image receiving device for receiving an image of the light-emitting device in the driven state; and a processing unit for determining a luminous intensity of each of the light-emitting diodes with the image. |
| US08687180B2 |
System, method, and device for determining a focal position of an objective in a microscopy imaging system
A system and method of determining a focal position for an objective positioned at a measurement location of a sample holder in a microscopy imaging system are provided. The objective is moved to a position relative to the sample holder that corresponds to a distance between the objective and the sample holder. The sample holder has a conditioned upper surface. A focusing light beam is projected onto the sample holder when the objective is located at the position, and the objective focuses the focusing light beam on the sample holder. A reflected light beam resulting from reflection of the focusing light beam off the conditioned upper surface is observed. The focal position for the objective is determined based on the reflected light beam such that the objective produces an in focus image of a microscopy sample when the objective is located at the focal position. |
| US08687178B2 |
Process for testing a laser device
A process is proposed for testing a laser device that has been set up to emit pulsed focused laser radiation, the focal position of which is adjustable both in and across the direction of propagation of the laser radiation. The laser device includes a contact element that is transparent to the laser radiation, with an abutment surface for abutment of an object to be machined. Within the scope of the process, a test object that is transparent to the laser radiation at least in a machining region is applied onto the abutment surface of the contact element. Then laser radiation is beamed into the test object bearing against the abutment surface and in the process the focal position is moved in accordance with a predetermined test pattern, in order to generate enduring machining structures in the test object. |
| US08687176B2 |
Color measurement device and color measurement method
To press a medium using an appropriate pressing force and perform colorimetric measurement, a color measurement device for performing colorimetric measurement of a print pattern printed on a medium, the color measurement device comprising a pressing member for pressing the medium; a power source for outputting power for the pressing member to press the medium; a detecting part for detecting a pressing force on the medium; a color measurement section for performing colorimetric measurement of the print pattern; and a control part for controlling the power source so that the pressing force detected by the detecting part is equal to a predetermined pressing force, and for causing the color measurement section to perform colorimetric measurement of the print pattern printed on the medium pressed by the pressing member. |
| US08687168B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which measures are taken to prevent or reduce the presence of bubbles in liquid through which the projection beam radiates. This may be done, for example, by ensuring that a gap between a substrate and a substrate table is filled with immersion liquid or by causing a localized flow radially outwardly from the optical axis in the vicinity of the edge of the substrate. |
| US08687167B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A method controls a scanning function of a lithographic apparatus. A first alignment strategy is used. A monitor wafer is exposed to determine baseline control parameters pertaining to the scanning function. The baseline control parameters are periodically retrieved from the monitor wafer. Parameter drift is determined from the baseline control parameters. Corrective action is taken based on the determination. A production wafer is exposed using a second alignment strategy, different to the first alignment strategy. The corrective action is modified so as to be substantially closer to the correction that would have been made had the second alignment strategy been used in exposing the monitor wafer. |
| US08687165B2 |
Imaging system having a liquid crystal element for selectively deflecting a beam path to vary the focal length thereof
An imaging system for imaging an object onto an image sensor, and which has a front side facing the object and a rear side facing away from the object, the rear side being arranged behind the front side as viewed from the object. Furthermore, the imaging system has a light entrance device at the front side through which light coming from the object can enter into the imaging system. In this case, the light traverses the beam path between object and image sensor. At least one first and one second optical element are likewise present and are arranged at the rear side in such a way that they can influence the beam path. The light entrance device has an electrically switchable liquid crystal element which deflects the beam path at at least one first angle and a second angle which is different from the first angle depending on the electrical switching state. A discretely switchable focal length change is realized by this electrically effected change in the beam path. |
| US08687151B2 |
Polarization element comprising a plurality of metal protruding sections formed in a striped manner having first and second heat radiation sections tilted in opposite directions
A polarization element includes: a substrate; a plurality of protruding sections formed on the substrate in a striped manner in a plan view; and a heat radiation section formed on a top portion of each of the protruding sections, wherein the heat radiation section has a concavo-convex section. |
| US08687150B2 |
Liquid crystal display module
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display module that improves luminance of a liquid crystal panel by enhancing a light transmittance. The liquid crystal display module comprises a liquid crystal panel with plural unit pixels for converting incident light into colored light, wherein each unit pixel includes red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixels; a light source for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; an optical member for guiding light emitted from the light source toward a frontal direction of the liquid crystal panel; and a polarizing means including a polarization area for polarizing the light outgoing from the liquid crystal panel, and a hole for transmitting the light therethrough. |
| US08687149B2 |
Visual display unit illumination
A method of adapting a visual unit having a first screen (10) in a first focal plane by the addition of one or more at least partially transparent display screens (20) at least partially overlapping said first screen (10) and located in focal planes distinct from said first focal plane, characterized in that an at least partially transparent emissive layer (21) is provided between said first screen (10) and at least one said additional display screen (20). |
| US08687145B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and method for fabricating the same
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent device including a substrate, a first electrode, one or more organic material layers, and a second electrode in a sequentially deposited form, wherein a light scattering layer is provided between the substrate and the first electrode, and includes a cholesteric liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal vertically aligned to the substrate, and a method for fabricating the same. |
| US08687144B2 |
Liquid crystal display including a diffusion plate with a bulge
Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: a liquid crystal panel including a display region for displaying an image; a linear illuminator disposed below the display region and extending linearly; and a diffusion plate disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the linear illuminator, in which the diffusion plate includes a thick portion which is formed to be thicker than another portion located below the display region, and the thick portion is formed opposing to the linear illuminator. |
| US08687140B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a backlight module, a liquid crystal display panel, an insulating cover and a touch panel assembly. The insulating cover includes a reflective bottom plate for supporting the backlight module, at least one first sidewall with a first end and an opposite second end, at least one second sidewall with a third end and an opposite fourth end and a supporting plate connected to the opposite second end of the first sidewall and the third end of the second sidewall. The supporting plate is arranged in parallel with the reflective bottom plate and has an upper surface for supporting the liquid crystal display panel. The securing frame has a first end portion fixed to a lower surface of the supporting and a second end portion. |
| US08687139B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having reduced static electricity
An LCD device adapted to prevent a malfunction due to static electricity is disclosed. The LCD device includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a panel guider configured to support edges of the liquid crystal display panel; a bottom cover combined with the panel guider; and at least one conductive tape attached to the liquid crystal display panel and the bottom cover, and configured to include: a plurality of slit trains formed in a pattern, that positions of slits in one of the slit trains are shifted from those in adjacent slit trains along a first direction. |
| US08687137B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising: a backlight unit; a plurality of optical films disposed above the backlight unit; and a liquid crystal panel disposed above the optical films, wherein a protection layer is disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the optical films in order to support the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal panel is bended. |
| US08687131B2 |
Control device and method for control of broadcast receiver
A control device is provided. The control device includes a first communication interface unit which transmits a control command in a first communication mode which uses a bi-directional wireless communication, a second communication interface unit which transmits a control command in a second communication mode which uses a unidirectional wireless communication, a state determination unit which determines a communication mode of the control device, a user interface unit which displays a user interface window which corresponds to a determined communication mode and receives the control command with respect to a broadcast receiver and a control unit which transmits the received control command according to the determined communication mode. |
| US08687127B2 |
Video display apparatus and external power-supply apparatus
According to one embodiment, a video display apparatus including, a first power-supply module configured to be charged while a commercially available power is connected, a second power-supply module connected as an external apparatus and configured to be charged together with the first power-supply module while the commercially available power is connected, and a power switching module configured to supply power from at least one of the first and second power-supply modules upon receipt of an instruction to stop connection with the commercially available power. |
| US08687124B2 |
Signal processing device, integrated circuit, control program, and computer readable recording medium
A signal processing device (201) includes noise reduction units (101), cascade-connected to each other, each of which includes: a signal selection section (31) for selecting a representative value from sampled signals obtained from an input signal by sampling a target signal and signals which are away from the target signal by given intervals; a voltage determination section (51) for determining which of a determined representative value and a voltage of the target signal is larger; and a signal output section (61) for increasing or decreasing the voltage of the target signal depending on a result of the determining and outputs the target signal as the output signal. A combination of intervals between the target signal and the signals excluding the target signal vary from noise reduction unit (101) to noise reduction unit (101). A noise reduction unit on a more upstream side has a larger maximum value of the intervals. |
| US08687120B2 |
High definition media content processing
High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory. |
| US08687117B2 |
Data transmission device, data reception device, data transmission method, and data reception method
There is provided a data transmission device including a transmission unit which transmits, via a transmission path to a data reception device, video data received by the data transmission device and packetizes closed caption data which was received by the data transmission device and transmits the closed caption data packetized via the transmission path to the data reception device, where the transmission path is constituted by a transmission channel included in a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable. |
| US08687116B2 |
Video output device and video display system
A video output device outputs a plurality of video streams with use of shutter glasses, and dynamically switches between different videos such that in the case where a plurality of viewers are viewing a video output by the video output device, only a viewer who is operating a remote control can view a video stream different from a video stream other viewers are viewing. Operation signals instructing to start or terminate an operation mode are received. In an operation mode, time-sharing output of a first video stream and a second video stream is performed, and synchronizing signals each in synchronization with a time-sharing timing are transmitted. In a normal mode, images that are each generated based on any of images constituting the first video stream are output, and images constituting the second video stream are not output. |
| US08687113B2 |
Image pickup apparatus equipped with handle unit
An image pickup apparatus which has a small-sized removable handle unit easy to be handled and removed and prevents breakage of electrical contacts. The handle unit includes a handle-side connector having a handle-side connector terminal section, rear handle fixing members for mounting the handle unit to the main unit, a connector fixing plate for mounting the handle-side connector to the handle unit, and resilient members interposed between the handle-side connector and the connector fixing plate. The main unit includes a main unit-side connector having a second terminal section and a main unit-side fixing portion to which the rear handle fixing members are affixed. The handle-side connector and the main unit-side connector are connected such that the first terminal section and the second terminal section are electrically connected in a state of the rear handle fixing members being affixed to the main unit-side fixing portion. |
| US08687108B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that makes movement of focus lens inconspicuous, and control method for the image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an in-focus direction based on a focus signal that results from an output signal of an image pickup device by reciprocating a focus lens in an optical axis direction, and a focus controller configured to provide focusing by moving the focus lens in the in-focus direction. The focus controller is configured to set an amplitude of the focus lens when moving a center of a reciprocation of the focus lens, to be less than that of the focus lens when the center of the reciprocation of the focus lens is not moved. |
| US08687105B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, and recording medium including a focal length adjustment unit
An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit having a function for adjusting a focal length, a stillness determination unit which determines whether or not a motion of the image capturing apparatus is within a predetermined range, a focal length adjustment processing unit which performs first focal length adjustment processing which adjusts the focal length in a direction for close-up photography when the motion of the image capturing apparatus is within the predetermined range, and a code recognition processing unit which recognizes a code from an image captured by the image capturing unit while the first focal length adjustment processing is being performed. |
| US08687101B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera
A solid-state imaging device includes pixel cells that are formed on a substrate having a first substrate surface side, on which light is irradiated, and a second substrate surface side, on which elements are formed, and separated by an adjacent cell group and an element separation layer for each of the pixel cells or with plural pixel cells as a unit. Each of the pixel cells has a first conductive well formed on the first substrate surface side and a second conductive well formed on the second substrate surface side. The first conductive well receives light from the first substrate surface side and has a photoelectric conversion function and a charge accumulation function for the received light. A transistor that detects accumulated charges in the first conductive well and has a threshold modulation function is formed in the second conductive well. |
| US08687098B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, control method therefor, and camera system
A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section having pixels performing photoelectric conversion arranged in a matrix form; a pixel signal reading unit including an AD converting part that reads pixel signals in a unit of pixels, and compares a reference signal as a ramp waveform with the pixel signals to perform AD conversion; a clamp unit clamping the signal line with a clamp voltage such that the pixel signals are held at or greater than a set voltage; a correction bias circuit generating a clamp voltage according to a clamp voltage set value supplied and supplies the clamp voltage to the clamp unit; and a correction bias selecting unit selecting the clamp voltage set value such that the clamp voltage is generated in association with slope determining information for determining a slope of the reference signal, and supplies the clamp voltage set value to the correction bias circuit. |
| US08687096B2 |
Adapted piecewise linear processing drive
A piecewise linear processing device applies different amplification rates according to a general environment and a low luminance environment where much noise exists. The piecewise linear processing device includes a knee point storing unit configured to store a user's default setting value and low luminance setting value; a luminance detecting unit configured to detect a noisy environment to output a current luminance information signal and a maximum luminance information signal; an adaptive knee point supply unit configured to receive the default setting value, the low luminance setting value, the current luminance information signal, and the maximum luminance information signal to supply a adjusted adaptive knee point according to a degree of noise; and a piecewise linear processing unit configured to apply a section amplification rate to an input data on the basis of a region corresponding to the adaptive knee point. |
| US08687094B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of displaying object related information therein
A mobile terminal and a method of displaying an object related information in the mobile terminal are disclosed, in which the method includes receiving an image via a camera module of the mobile terminal, the received image depicting objects located within a predetermined distance from the mobile terminal, obtaining at least one object related information corresponding to the received image, displaying the received image including the obtained at least one object related information, receiving a zoom-in command signal for the camera module, zooming in on the displayed image according to the received zoom-in command signal such that the zoomed-in image is displayed at a zoom position, and displaying object related information in the obtained object related information corresponding to at least one object of the zoomed-in image depicted between the zoom position and the predetermined distance. |
| US08687093B2 |
Image sensing apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium
An apparatus having an electronic zoom function, comprising an image sensing element, a zoom magnification setting unit, a pixel signal readout unit, an image processor, and a controller which, when the zoom magnification is between first and second zoom magnifications, controls to read out pixel signals of a first pixel count, and to generate the image using pixel signals of a second pixel count, and when the zoom magnification is between third and fourth zoom magnifications, controls to read out pixel signals of a third pixel count, and to generate the image using pixel signals of a fourth pixel count, the second pixel count is not larger than the first pixel count, the fourth pixel count is not larger than the third pixel count. |
| US08687092B2 |
Imaging device that displays previous setting information when an image capture mode is released and then re-entered
An imaging device provided with an imaging unit for imaging object light, and a display unit for displaying an image, comprises: a storage unit that stores at least one of setting information regarding image capture performed in a predetermined image capture mode in which a predetermined image capture condition can be set and setting information regarding functions other than the image capture; a determination unit that determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when the predetermined image capture mode is released and then the imaging device re-enters the predetermined image capture mode; and a control unit that controls whether to cause the display unit to display presence display, which indicates presence or absence of the setting information stored in the storage unit, based on a determination result of the determination unit. |
| US08687089B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing an album
In a method and an apparatus for managing an album, when a user inputs a desired album title, texts of the desired album title are recognized and arranged, and a folder corresponding to the album title is automatically generated. Thus, convenience of the user is improved. |
| US08687088B2 |
Image capturing apparatus that communicates with another image capturing apparatus and control method for communication
An image capturing apparatus which communicates with another image capturing apparatus, comprises an image capturing unit configured to obtain image data by capturing an image of an object; a reception unit configured to receive image data captured by the other image capturing apparatus during communication with the other image capturing apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the image data received by the reception unit in a storage medium; and a processor configured to describe image information of the image data received by the reception unit in an information file which describes image information used to identify image data stored in the storage unit. |
| US08687085B2 |
Method and apparatus for verification of imaging systems
Imaging systems may be provided with image sensors and verification circuitry. Verification circuitry may be configured to continuously verify proper operation of the image sensor during operation. Verification circuitry may include one or more heating elements formed on a common substrate with image pixels of the image sensor. Verification data may be generated by powering on the heating elements and collecting charges generated in image pixels of the image sensor in response to heat generated by the powered heating element. Heat image charges may be read out using the same readout circuitry that is used to readout imaging data generated in response to incoming light. Heat image data may be used to verify proper operation of all components of an imaging system. Based on a comparison of the verification data with a predetermined standard, an imaging system may continue to operate normally or corrective action may be taken. |
| US08687084B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
The present invention is directed to a method for generating virtual image data at high resolution which is obtained when imaging is performed using a light ray incident on an imaging apparatus at a virtual position different from the actual position of an image sensor. A method for image processing includes acquiring light ray information, inputting virtual position information, generating first virtual image data which is obtained if the light ray is imaged at the virtual position with first resolution based on the light ray information and the virtual position information and inputting high resolution image data with second resolution higher than the first resolution, and generating second virtual image data which is obtained if the light ray is imaged at the virtual position with third resolution higher than the first resolution, based on the first virtual image data and the high resolution image data. |
| US08687081B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing image based on scene mode display
A method and apparatus for processing an image based on a scene mode. An image processing apparatus is disclosed including a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to select scene modes applicable to a live-view image and configured to display the selected scene modes as icons on the live-view image. An image processing method is disclosed including selecting scene modes applicable to a live-view image; and displaying the selected scene modes as icons on the live-view image. |
| US08687077B2 |
Method and system for controlling camera through wireless sensor network
A method for controlling a camera through a Multi-Hop-based wireless sensor network includes: sensing whether an event occurs or not in a corresponding area and transmitting position information on the corresponding area and type information on the event, converting the received position information on the event into a movement control signal for the camera, calculating camera driving values in a left/right direction and an up/down direction using the converted signal, controlling a zoom-in operation of the camera lens using the calculated camera driving values according to the received event type and photographing an object located in the corresponding direction, and transmitting the photographed images over the outer network. |
| US08687069B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and processing method for result of image pickup
The present invention is applied to an image pickup apparatus for which, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup element is used. One screen image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion is detected for each of the blocks to control the exposure time of the block. |
| US08687066B2 |
Process and apparatus for managing signals at a bowling alley or the like
In a process and apparatus for managing signals to be broadcast at a bowling alley or the like a video signal comprising an image captured at the bowling alley is displayed at the bowling lane. |
| US08687065B2 |
Virtual fence
The present invention is directed to a virtual fence provided using a plurality of video cameras. A method for providing a virtual fence in accordance with an embodiment includes: positioning a plurality of video cameras about a perimeter to be monitored, the perimeter comprising a plurality of designated areas; for each of the designated areas: capturing video data of the designated area using at least one video camera; analyzing the captured video data to detect an event; and sending at least one of image or video data to a central facility only in response to the detection of the event. |
| US08687063B2 |
Method for predicting lane line and lane departure warning system using the same
A method for predicting lane line is provided in the present invention, in which the method is capable of predicting and reconstructing the unidentified lane line according to a predetermined geometry relationship based on the recognized lane line data previously while one side of lane line is unable to be identified. In one embodiment, a lane predicting relationship formula is formed by describing the geometry relationship between the two identified lines defined the lane. When the one side of line of the lane is unable to be identified, a new predicted line can be reconstructed for representing the unidentified line of lane according to the lane predicting relationship curve. In another embodiment, a lane departure warning system utilizing the foregoing method is provided for monitoring vehicle moving status and alerting the driver so as to enhance the vehicle safety. |
| US08687061B2 |
Entrance guard device with light-uniformization structure
The present invention relates to an entrance guard device with light-uniformization structure, comprising: a housing, a main controlling module, a keypress module, a display module, a doorbell module, and an image capture module, wherein the image capture module consists of an image capture device accommodating body, a light-emitting assembly, an image capture device, a light-uniformization member, and a lens. In the present invention, the light-uniformization member is disposed at the front of a plurality of light-emitting chips of the light-emitting assembly, such that the light emitted by the light-emitting chips is able to enter the light-uniformization member, and then the light would be uniformly emitted by the light-uniformization member after the light are refracted; Therefore, the uniform light may shine on people face for making an image capture device of the image capture module capture the facial feature of people completely and clearly. |
| US08687060B1 |
System and method for providing distance-based pulses relative to motion of a surface scanned by a vision system
This invention provides a system and method for estimating the time of a set of pulses based upon a plurality of position measurements of a moving object provided by a non-contacting sensor, such as a one-dimensional optical sensor that tracks movements of object features and reports position measurements with respect to time. Position measurements determine the estimated velocity. The velocity and position measurement allow the timing of a next pulse to be updated, based upon the time of the previous pulse. The pulse is output at the time of the last updated time before the first new position measurement received after the estimated pulse output time. The system allows pulses to be precisely delivered at predetermined motion distances. Where the distance is too short for the measurement rate, the system compares estimated pulse times to clock-generated pulse times and updates the clock-generated pulse times based upon the difference. |
| US08687059B2 |
Image taking system and lens apparatus
An image taking system includes a lens apparatus 1 and a camera 2 which performs a shooting using the lens apparatus. The system comprises a distance calculator 114 which calculates an object distance in each of a plurality of ranging areas 1 to 16 provided in an image-taking range, a distance information generator 114 which generates distance information indicating at least one of the object distance calculated by the distance calculator and a difference between the object distances, an extractor 115 which extracts, out of the plurality of ranging areas, a ranging area where the object distance calculated by the distance calculator is in a first range A, and an output image generator 203 which generates an output image including a shot image generated by the camera and the distance information corresponding to the ranging area extracted by the extractor. |
| US08687058B2 |
Method for selecting sensor nodes
The present invention relates to a method for selecting sensor nodes, the method is adopted for calculating the value of a contribution function for a plurality of objects contributed by a plurality of sensor nodes, wherein the contribution function value is calculated by way of determining a coverage level of the objects made by the sensor nodes, or by means of arranging a sub sensor node group capable of sensing covering an object group and calculating the value of the contribution function for the objects contributed by the sensor nodes; Therefore, through the method, the sensor nodes having maximum contribution to the objects can be selected and arranged in a specific environment, and the sensing direction of those sensor nodes can be adjusted for making the sensor node group performs the best efficiency. |
| US08687057B2 |
Three-dimensional measurement apparatus and control method therefor
A three-dimensional measurement apparatus generates patterns to be projected onto the measurement object, images the measurement object using an imaging unit after projecting a plurality of types of generated patterns onto the measurement object using a projection unit, and computes the coordinate values of patterns on a captured image acquired by the imaging unit, based on the projected patterns, a geometric model of the measurement object, and information indicating the coarse position and orientation of the measurement object. Captured patterns on the captured image are corresponded with the patterns projected by the projection unit using the computed coordinate values, and the distances between the imaging unit and the patterns projected onto the measurement object are derived. The position and orientation of the measurement object are estimated using the derived distances and the geometric model of the measurement object, and the information on the coarse position and orientation is updated. |
| US08687052B2 |
Stereoscopic image display device, polarizing film and panel and stereoscopic image display system containing the film and panel
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device and to a stereoscopic image display system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display device in which a polarizing film and a panel contained in a display are not separated from each other so that the color and the view angle are prevented from degrading, and relates to a stereoscopic image display system which enables a user to observe both stereoscopic images and planar images at the same time with both eyes even when the user is wearing polarizing eyeglasses. |
| US08687051B2 |
Screen and method for representing picture information
A method for representing picture information on an autostereoscopic screen that is designed as a multiperson screen and that is suitable for the simultaneous display of a plurality of views which are visible in each case from at least one of different observation zones. The screen includes a matrix screen having a plurality of pixels as well as a beam splitter raster that is suitable for guiding light coming from the pixels, in each case into at least one of the observation zones. In the method, the pixels are activated with picture information of at least two different scenes, in a manner such that a first observer of the screen may exclusively see a first of the at least two scenes and a second observer of the screen may exclusively see a second of the at least two scenes. |
| US08687048B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method, and program
The present invention relates to image processing apparatus and method, and a program which can display a stereoscopic image that provides more natural depth perception. A panoramic image generating section 25-1 generates a panoramic image PR for the right eye by extracting and synthesizing each strip region TRR in a plurality of captured images that are captured successively in the state in which an imaging apparatus ii is moving. A panoramic image generating section 25-2 generates a panoramic image PL for the left eye by extracting and synthesizing each strip region TRL in the plurality of captured images. From the panoramic image PR and the panoramic image PL, a disparity controlling section 26 detects the dominant disparity of these panoramic images, and shifts the entire panoramic images in accordance with the detection result to thereby adjust disparity. A display section 27 simultaneously displays the disparity-adjusted pair of panoramic images, thereby displaying a stereoscopic panoramic image with more natural depth perception. The present invention can be applied to a camera. |
| US08687042B2 |
Set-top box circuitry supporting 2D and 3D content reductions to accommodate viewing environment constraints
Set-top box circuitry and methods of operating the same are described that support the delivery of media content between one or more media content sources and a screen assembly of a display system. The set-top box circuitry is configured to process media content having display requirements that exceed constraints associated with a viewing environment that includes the screen assembly to produce processed media content having display requirements that do not exceed the constraints. The set-top box circuitry may also be configured to obtain substitute media content that replaces requested media content when the requested media content has display requirements exceeding constraints associated with a media content source, a communication path from the media content source, and/or the viewing environment. |
| US08687034B2 |
Exposure apparatus and image forming apparatus
An exposure apparatus that emits light toward a latent-image bearing member configured to bear a latent image, the latent image formed on the latent-image bearing member being used in a developing process performed by a developing device. The exposure apparatus includes a first light-emitting unit including an organic electroluminescence element disposed along a main scanning direction of the latent-image bearing member, the first light-emitting unit emitting light toward the latent-image bearing member, and a second light-emitting unit disposed along the main scanning direction, the second light-emitting unit correcting an amount of light to which the latent-image bearing member is exposed in cooperation with the first light-emitting unit. |
| US08687032B2 |
Printing ribbon security apparatus and method
An apparatus and method of securing and maintaining the integrity of desired information on a ribbon and media subsequent to a printing operation is provided. The apparatus and method includes a thermal transfer printer having a print station and a printhead operable for performing a printing operation. The printhead is capable of performing an initial print operation and then being raised from the media, thereby allowing the used ribbon to be rewound a predetermined distance about a supply spindle. Thereafter, a second print operation is performed on the space previously printed upon using characters, designs or block-out patterns and the used ribbon is then wound onto a take-up spindle. In exemplary embodiments, the used ribbon can also be reprinted with a waste media several times thus further obscuring the image on the used ribbon. |
| US08687031B2 |
Thermal printer
A printing control unit for a thermal printer that prints by applying heat energy to a recording medium and is able to operate in multiple print modes, includes a line buffer unit, a shift register unit, and a configuration registration unit. The line buffer unit accumulates current dot printing data supplied from a host. The shift register unit gets and passes the current dot printing data and previous dot history data from the line buffer unit to a logic circuit unit. The configuration registration unit stores configuration data for setting data logic of the logic circuit unit. |
| US08687029B2 |
Method for reducing ripple noise of a display image
The present invention discloses a method for reducing ripple noise on the image of a display. The steps of the method include: (a) providing a first potential signal to a backlight module by an inverter; (b) resetting the inverter; (c) providing a second potential signal to the backlight by the inverter, wherein the phase difference between the first potential signal and the second potential signal is 180 degrees; (d) resetting again the inverter; and (e) repeating the steps (a) to (d) Consequently, the ripple noise present on the display would be effectively reduced by the alteration of the bright areas and dark areas on the display panel in conjunction with the persistence of vision of the user's eyes. |
| US08687026B2 |
Systems and method for display temperature detection
Disclosed embodiments relate to a display temperature detection system that can detect temperature variations in different regions of a display panel. The temperature measuring display system includes a display panel that provides graphical images. Further, the temperature measuring display system includes temperature measurement circuitry. The temperature measurement circuitry includes one or more thermal diodes, transistors, or a mesh layer useful to determine at least one temperature measurement of the display panel. |
| US08687023B2 |
Cross-slide gesture to select and rearrange
Cross slide gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, cross slide gestures can be used on content that pans or scrolls in one direction, to enable additional actions, such as content selection, drag and drop operations, and the like. In one or more embodiments, a cross slide gesture can be performed by dragging an item or object in a direction that is different from a scrolling direction. The different-direction drag can be mapped to additional actions or functionality. In one or more embodiments, one or more thresholds can be utilized, such as a distance threshold, in combination with the different-direction drag, to map to additional actions or functionality. |
| US08687022B2 |
Method for generating digital content by combining photographs and text messages
A method for generating digital content where an intermediary figure included in an inputted image is perceived, a digital object is inserted into a location where the intermediary figure is displayed, and digital content, which is the image into which the digital object is inserted, is displayed. Accordingly, the user can generate digital content easily using a touch screen. |
| US08687019B2 |
Composite multi-image display device, composite multi-image information processing device, composite multi-image display system, composite multi-image display method, and composite multi-image formation processing method
An image display system includes an image display device and an image information processing device. The image display device includes a display side input section receiving a plurality of pieces of image information and cursor position information, an image combining/displaying section for displaying a composite image of the plurality of pieces of image information, and a cursor display section for displaying a cursor based on the cursor position information. The image information processing device includes an output section for outputting the image information and the cursor position information, a processing side input section for receiving input of composite image information, and a cursor position information processing section selecting either of a first cursor correspondence process corresponding to the image information sent to the image display device and a second cursor correspondence process corresponding to the composite image information and then performing the cursor correspondence process thus selected. |
| US08687013B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for providing a color device characterization with a quality evaluation
A method, apparatus and system for assessing color characterization quality includes a characterization unit configured for determining at least one of a forward and inverse transform from a first set of device dependent input color values and measured output display values of the first set of device dependent input color values on the display and transforming a second set of device dependent input color values using the determined at least one of a forward and inverse transform to provide an intermediate set of device dependent input color values. The method, apparatus and system further includes a verification unit for performing at least one of a forward transform quality evaluation and an inverse transform quality evaluation. |
| US08687012B2 |
Information processing apparatus, storage medium, information processing method and information processing system for adjusting a position of an object to be imaged on a display
An example of a game apparatus includes a CPU, and in a mode of examining a flower based on an imaged image, the CPU activates two outward cameras to thereby display an imaging screen on a stereoscopic LCD and a lower LCD. In the center of an upper screen displayed on the stereoscopic LCD, a designation image for adjusting a position and a size of an object to be imaged is displayed. Also, on the upper screen, a through image imaged by the outward camera is displayed, and the designation image is displayed in front of the through image. At this time, the designation image is displayed in a complementary color of a color of the through image. |
| US08687009B2 |
Image processing apparatus and controlling method therefor
An image processing apparatus for managing a memory device having a plurality of storage areas including a storage area storing out-of-use information and a free area storing no information, the image processing apparatus comprises memory control unit adapted to determine whether or not there is a storage area storing the out-of-use information based on a request for storing information and determining the storage area storing the out-of-use information as an area for storing the information, in a case where the storage area exists; and information writing unit adapted to overwrite generated information to the storage area determined by the memory control unit. |
| US08687008B2 |
Latency tolerant system for executing video processing operations
A latency tolerant system for executing video processing operations. The system includes a host interface for implementing communication between the video processor and a host CPU, a scalar execution unit coupled to the host interface and configured to execute scalar video processing operations, and a vector execution unit coupled to the host interface and configured to execute vector video processing operations. A command FIFO is included for enabling the vector execution unit to operate on a demand driven basis by accessing the memory command FIFO. A memory interface is included for implementing communication between the video processor and a frame buffer memory. A DMA engine is built into the memory interface for implementing DMA transfers between a plurality of different memory locations and for loading the command FIFO with data and instructions for the vector execution unit. |
| US08687003B2 |
Methods and apparatus for displaying flow rate graphs and alarms on a dialysis system
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for displaying flow rate graphs and alarms on a dialysis system. The disclosed methods and apparatus allow a user to simultaneously view a normal flow rate graph, one or more abnormal flow rate graphs, an actual flow rate graph, and an alarm type. Preferably, the three graphs are at the same scale and time-aligned so the user can quickly diagnose issues associated with drain and catheter problems. |
| US08687002B2 |
Method, medium and system rendering 3-D graphics data having an object to which a motion blur effect is to be applied
A 3D graphics rendering method, medium and system that provide a motion blur effect. Clone objects of an object are generated based on animation information of the object to which a motion blur effect is to be applied and 3D graphics data including the generated clone objects is rendered, thereby providing a motion blur effect without using accumulation buffers. |
| US08686998B2 |
Three dimensional graphics system with early occlusion culling using Z-ranges
An apparatus and a method for generating 3-dimensional computer graphic images. The image is first sub-divided into a plurality of rectangular areas. A display list memory is loaded with object data for each rectangular area. The image and shading data for each picture element of each rectangular area are derived from the object data in the image synthesis processor and a texturizing and shading processor. A depth range generator derives a depth range for each rectangular area from the object data as the imaging and shading data is derived. This is compared with the depth of each new object to be provided to the image synthesis processor and the object may be prevented from being provided to the image synthesis processor independence on the result of the comparison. |
| US08686997B2 |
Method and system for composing an assembly
The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus for composing an assembly of a plurality of objects. The method comprises navigating in a PLM database and displaying 3D representations of modeled objects. The method further comprises selecting in the PLM database a plurality of the modeled objects. The method further comprises storing the selected modeled objects in an editable area. The selected modeled objects are three-dimensionally displayed in the editable area. The method further comprises composing the assembly in a scene by using at least one instance of at least one of the objects stored in the editable area. |
| US08686986B2 |
Image display apparatus and voltage control method
An image display apparatus includes a light source, a scanner that scans an output beam emitted from the light source to forms an image on a projection surface, a light source driver that control intensity of the output beam emitted from the light source by controlling a drive current for driving the light source based on input image data, a light source drive power supply that supplies power to the light source driver, and a voltage controller that controls an output voltage from the light source drive power supply based on the input image data. |
| US08686982B2 |
Current generator and organic light emitting display using the same
A current generator for supplying or sinking current to/from pixels. The current generator includes a variable power source, a first amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the variable power source, a sensing resistor coupled between an output terminal of the first amplifier and an external terminal of the current generator, and a second amplifier having a first input terminal and a second input terminal coupled to respective ends of the sensing resistor and an output terminal coupled to a second input terminal of the first amplifier. |
| US08686979B2 |
Display device having improved gate driver
A display device includes pixels, each including a switching element; a shift register comprising stages coupled with the switching elements and sequentially generating output signals; clock signal lines transmitting clock signals; at least a control signal line transmitting a control signal; and terminal lines connecting the clock signal lines and the control signal with the stages, wherein the terminal lines comprise at least one common terminal line commonly connected with at least two stages. |
| US08686978B2 |
Video processing circuit, video processing method, liquid crystal display apparatus and electronic device
A video processing includes: a boundary detecting section which respectively detects, in a current frame and a previous frame, a boundary between a first pixel in which the applied voltage designated by the video signal is lower than a first voltage and a second pixel in which the applied voltage is equal to or higher than a second voltage which is higher than the first voltage; and a correcting section which corrects the voltage applied to the liquid crystal element corresponding to at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel in positions between which a portion which moves from the boundary of the previous frame by one pixel is interposed, within the boundary of the current frame, to correct the input video signal in a direction where a transverse electric field generated in the first pixel and the second pixel is reduced. |
| US08686975B2 |
Interactive projector device
An interactive device includes a first sensor, a first button, an accelerometer, a processor, and a transmitter. The first sensor is configured to receive coordinate information from a coordinate projection of a projector. The first button is configured to transmit an erase signal when the first button is pressed. The accelerometer is configured to provide angle information for the interactive device. The processor is in communication with the first sensor, with the first button, and with the accelerometer. The processor configured to receive the coordinate information from the first sensor, to receive the erase signal from the first button, to receive the angle information from the accelerometer, and to generate erase information based on the coordinate information, the erase signal, and the angle information. The transmitter is in communication with the processor, and is configured to transmit a delete request including the erase information received from the processor to the projector. |
| US08686973B2 |
Display with improved bendable cover having light transmissive area
A display is provided. The display includes a frame, a display module, and a bendable cover. The frame includes a bottom surface and a lateral surface, the display module is disposed on the frame, and the bendable cover has a surface layer and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer is located on the surface layer, a part of the surface layer is adhered to the display module through the adhesive layer, another part of the surface layer is attached to the lateral surface of the frame and adhered to the bottom surface of the frame through the adhesive layer. |
| US08686968B2 |
Touch screen panel
A touch screen panel in which an occurrence of a scratch at intersections of coupling patterns respectively coupling first sensing cells and second sensing cells to each other in a first direction and in a second direction is prevented. The touch screen panel includes a transparent substrate, sensing patterns formed on a surface of the transparent substrate. The sensing patterns include first sensing cells disposed along a first direction, second sensing cells disposed between the first sensing cells along a second direction intersecting the first direction, first coupling patterns coupling the first sensing cells to each other in the first direction, second coupling patterns coupling the second sensing cells to each other in the second direction, and an insulating layer disposed between the first coupling patterns and the second coupling patterns at intersections of the first coupling patterns and the second coupling patterns. The insulating layer includes a concave part formed below the second coupling patterns in an area where the first coupling patterns and the second coupling patterns intersect and a protruding part positioned around the concave part so as to have a height higher than the concave part. |
| US08686966B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a pressure value detection section that detects a pressure value which is a size of a pressure applied to the contact surface by the operation tool, a pressure value monitor section that monitors the pressure value detected by the pressure value detection section in conjunction with an elapsed time, a proximity volume determination section that determines whether the proximity volume detected by the touch panel meets a first condition to be larger than a first threshold, a pressure value determination section that determines whether the pressure value monitored by the pressure value monitor section has changed, and a process control section that does not allow the first processing section to execute the first processing when the proximity volume determination section determines the first condition is met and the pressure value determination section determines the pressure value is not changed. |
| US08686963B2 |
Digital book
A digital book includes a casing adapted to fold open and shut like a book and having a folding axis, a main part, and a secondary part, together forming a book back part. A display unit consists of at least two parts arranged such that when the casing is folded out, the main part and the secondary part are each presented with at least one screen each, like pages of a book. A control unit has means for receiving, storing, processing, and reproducing information, and an operating unit has operating elements for using the digital book as a device for receiving/processing/reproducing information. A supply unit has a receiving opening and a guide and supply pin, by means of which the digital book can be plugged in when the casing is folded shut, for inputting and outputting information, for supplying energy, and for storing the digital book. |
| US08686962B2 |
Gestures for controlling, manipulating, and editing of media files using touch sensitive devices
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, and software for implementing gestures with touch sensitive devices (such as a touch sensitive display) for managing and editing media files on a computing device or system. Specifically, gestural inputs of a human hand over a touch/proximity sensitive device can be used to control, edit, and manipulate files, such as media files including without limitation graphical files, photo files and video files. |
| US08686959B2 |
Touch screen multi-control emulator
An input emulation apparatus for any touch screen device with an input device having a receptive component for a user's hand and/or finger inputs and a contact component for contacting the touch screen device, where the contact component is operatively linked to the input component so that the contact device contacts the touch screen device as it responds to the user's hand input. |
| US08686958B2 |
Apparatus and method for gesture input in a dynamically zoned environment
An apparatus and method are disclosed for dynamically zoning a touch screen environment. The apparatus includes an identification module detecting a number of users around a perimeter of a display, a zoning module generating, via a processor, a plurality of user zones in response to the number of users detected, and a positioning module orienting a gesture zone, within each of the plurality of user zones, in relation to a corresponding user. The method includes detecting a number of users around a perimeter of a display, generating, via a processor, a plurality of user zones in response to the number of users detected, and orienting a gesture zone, within each of the plurality of user zones, in relation to a corresponding user. |
| US08686953B2 |
Orienting a displayed element relative to a user
An element is initially displayed on an interactive touch-screen display device with an initial orientation relative to the interactive touch-screen display device. One or more images of a user of the interactive touch-screen display device are captured. The user is determined to be interacting with the element displayed on the interactive touch-screen display device. In addition, an orientation of the user relative to the interactive touch-screen display device is determined based on at least one captured image of the user of the interactive touch-screen display device. Thereafter, in response to determining that the user is interacting with the displayed element, the initial orientation of the displayed element relative to the interactive touch-screen display device is automatically adjusted based on the determined orientation of the user relative to the interactive touch-screen display device. |
| US08686949B2 |
Visualized information conveying system
A handheld communication device having a logic to transfer information from a first application to a second application by using a user interface which displays a screen shot of the information gathered at the first application, and the interface also displays a list of icons indicative of other applications that is capable of receiving such information and using such information. The logic is configured to transfer the information to the second application by a drag-and-drop motion on the interface page. |
| US08686946B2 |
Dual-mode input device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a dual-mode input device. According to one embodiment, the aforementioned device includes an input surface having an input plane. The device also includes an optical sensor having a central projection plane that lies perpendicular to the input plane of the input surface so as to detect gesture input from a user. |
| US08686945B2 |
Data processing device input apparatus, in particular keyboard system and data processing device
The invention relates to a data processing device input apparatus (1) for inputting characters, in particular graphics characters and/or commands, by—manual actuation, in particular finger contact with input field elements (3) of an input field (4), the input field (4) being divided into two input partial fields (5, 6), the individual input partial fields (5, 6) being arranged on a base (7) so as to be set apart from each other viewed in the axial direction, and the input surfaces (24, 25) of the input partial fields (5, 6) opposing each other in the working position and a reproduction component (8) for the visual detectability of the input surfaces (24, 25) of the input field (4) being associated with said input surfaces. This may be advantageous as a result of the fact that the input partial fields (5, 6) are pivotably articulated to the base (7) so as to be set apart from each other and the reproduction component (8) is arranged on the base (7) between theoretical pivot axes (A5, A6) of the input partial fields (5, S) or is integrated in the base (7). |
| US08686944B1 |
Software for input devices with application-specific scrolling and highlighted text searching
The response to the movement of a scroll wheel varies depending upon the application currently being used. The variation can be in ratcheting vs. free wheeling, speed and acceleration. Ratcheting can be automatic in word processing, with free wheeling automatic in photo editing, for example. In another aspect of the invention, text can be highlighted and searched by pressing a button on an input device to activate a search. The search can either be an Internet search or a desktop search. Different manners of activating the button (such as a short press vs. a long press) can be used to select between an Internet and desktop search. |
| US08686940B2 |
Haptic alert waveform generation method and system
Haptic alert waveform generation method and system for use with haptic actuators that impart haptic sensations according to a waveform of an input signal used to control the haptic actuator. The shape and/or amplitude of the waveform may be controlled according to information collected from various vehicle systems, allowing virtually any type of waveform to generate and used to impart virtually any type of haptic sensations. |
| US08686939B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for three-dimensional input control
Methods for tracking a controller of a video game and for providing inputs to a system are disclosed. |
| US08686935B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for driving the same
An liquid crystal display device, including: m+1 data lines crossing n gate lines defining m×n pixels; m×n thin film transistors in each of the m×n pixels, wherein n thin film transistors in a column m are alternately connected to the mth data line and the m+1th data line; and an electrical connector that connects a 1st data line to an m+1th data line. |
| US08686934B2 |
Display device and electronic device using the same
The present invention reduces power consumption of a display device. The display device includes a wire to which a video signal is input, a first capacitor element and a second capacitor element which are connected to the wire in parallel, and a pixel. Between the first capacitor element and the wire, a first switch is provided so as to control conduction and non conduction between the first capacitor element and the wire. Between the second capacitor element and the wire, a second switch is provided so as to control conduction and non conduction between the second capacitor element and the wire. The pixel and the wire are arranged such that the pixel and the wire can be connected to each other, and a video signal can be input to the pixel. |
| US08686930B2 |
Electro-optical device having odd and even scanning lines for alternately driving odd and even column pixels and method for driving the same
An electro-optical device includes: a plurality of unit circuits arranged corresponding to crossings between a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines; a plurality of wirings that constitutes each of the plurality of scanning lines; a scanning line drive circuit that sequentially selects one of the scanning lines while sequentially selecting one of the wirings included in the scanning line, at every driving period within each unit circuit; and a data line drive circuit that, at every period within the each unit period which is a writing period before the drive period is started, outputs a data potential in response to the gradation data of the unit circuit, which corresponds to the wiring selected in the driving period within the unit period, to a data line corresponding to the unit circuit out of the each data line. Each of the plurality of unit circuits includes: an electric optical element that displays gradation in response to the data potential; a capacitative element having a first electrode connected to a capacitance line and a second electrode connected to the data line; and a switching element that is disposed between the second electrode and the electric optical element and, by being electrically conducted in selecting one of the wirings by the scanning line drive circuit, allows the second electrode and the electric optical element to be electrically conducted. |
| US08686928B2 |
Self light emitting device and method of driving thereof
A self light emitting device having a function of correcting drops in brightness in self light emitting elements in a pixel portion, and capable of displaying a uniform image without brightness irregularities, is provided. A specific test pattern is displayed when an electric power source is connected, brightnesses are detected by photoelectric conversion elements arranged in each pixel, and then stored in a memory circuit. A correction circuit then corrects a first image signal based on portions which are insufficient from standard brightnesses (brightnesses of normal self light emitting elements at the same gray stale, stored in advance), and a second image signal is obtained. Display of an image in a display device is performed in accordance with the second image signal. |
| US08686927B2 |
Organic electroluminescence emitting display
An organic light emitting display capable of substantially preventing IR drop of a power source wiring line and coupling of data lines is disclosed. In one aspect, the organic light emitting display includes pairs of data lines between adjacent sub-pixels. The data lines are arranged to run parallel with a coupling blocking wiring line provided between each pair. |
| US08686926B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and pixel circuit
A pixel includes an OLED between a first power supply and a second power supply; a first transistor between the first power supply and the OLED, in which a gate electrode is connected to a first node; a second transistor between a first electrode of the first transistor and a data line, in which a gate electrode is connected to a current scanning line; a third transistor between a second electrode of the first transistor and the first node, in which a gate electrode is connected to the current scanning line or a control line; a fourth transistor between the second electrode of the first transistor and the OLED, in which a gate electrode is connected to a light emitting control line; and a fifth transistor between a connecting node of the fourth transistor and the OLED and the second power supply or a third power supply. |
| US08686925B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting diode display device and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display device according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a display panel including a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate line pairs crossing the data lines, and a plurality of light emitting cells which include an organic light emitting diode device, first and second cell driving circuits for alternately driving the organic light emitting diode device; a data voltage generator supplying a data voltage of a first polarity to the data lines; a compensation voltage generator supplying a compensation voltage of a second polarity to the data lines; and a scan driver for sequentially supplying scan pulses to the gate line pairs, wherein the first and second cell driving circuits are alternately supplied with the data voltage and the compensation voltage in response to the scan pulses to alternately driven the organic light. |
| US08686923B2 |
Interactive data view and command system
A method and information system for capturing signals, for processing signals, and for providing signals at least partially based on, or bearing correlation to, the captured signals is disclosed. The information system includes a signal input unit, a wireless communication unit, and an output unit. The signal input unit (preferably an optical signal unit) is constructed and is positionable to capture signals associated with an eye. The output unit is constructed to provide information based on the captured signals or to provide information as a function of the captured signals or in correlation with the captured signals. |
| US08686921B2 |
Dynamic geometry management of virtual frame buffer for appendable logical displays
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus having a frame buffer having a first area allocated to buffer display information for content to be displayed on a local display. A frame buffer allocator is to dynamically expand the frame buffer to include one or more additional areas allocated to buffer display information for content to be displayed on one or more remote displays associated with one or more wireless devices. A dynamic geometry manager is to configure the one or more additional areas of said frame buffer. One or more remote-frame-buffer protocols are to transfer the display information from the one or more additional areas to the one or more wireless devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08686914B2 |
Antenna module and design method thereof
An antenna module is provided for transmitting a wireless signal. The antenna module includes a reflective superstrate, an antenna substrate, a feed conductor, a ground layer and a reflective pattern. The reflective superstrate includes a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the third surface is opposite to the fourth surface. The antenna substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface. A feed conductor is disposed on the first surface. The ground layer is disposed on the second surface. The reflective pattern is formed on the third surface and faces the feed conductor, wherein a reflection gap d is formed between the reflective pattern and the ground layer, and the wireless signal has a wavelength λ, and the reflection gap d is between λ/20 and λ/80. |
| US08686912B2 |
450 MHz folded dipole antenna
A folded dipole antenna capable of transmitting and receiving signals from CDMA 450 system comprises a folded dipole Printed Circuit Board (PCB) having conducting strips on each side of the PCB forming excitation and grounding arms of the antenna, having a symmetric conducting strip configuration. The conducting strip on each side of the PCB includes an m-shaped conducting strip having a center conducting leg, and two symmetrically configured folded arms. The center conducting leg is thinner in width than the two folded arms. The PCB is placed is mounted perpendicularly to a base plate through a plastic holder. A coaxial cable having a center core extended through the folded dipole PCB connects with the excitation arm and with a metal shield soldered along the center conducting leg of the ground arm. |
| US08686904B2 |
Antenna-embedded electronic device case
An antenna-embedded electronic device case includes an electrically-insulated case wall, a lower and an upper ground conductive layers, a lower and an upper electrically-insulated layer, and a continuous conductive layer. The lower ground conductive layer is in contact with the electrically-insulated case wall. The lower and upper electrically-insulated layers are sandwiched between the lower and upper ground conductive layers. The continuous conductive layer has a first portion sandwiched between the lower and upper electrically-insulated layers and a second portion protruding out to serve as an antenna radiator for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic signals. |
| US08686895B2 |
Pulsed radar level gauge system with higher order harmonic regulation
A radar level gauge system comprising first pulse generating circuitry for generating a transmission signal, second pulse generating circuitry for generating a reference signal; and frequency control circuitry for controlling the second pulse generating circuitry to achieve a predetermined frequency difference between the transmission signal and the reference signal. The radar level gauge system further comprises first frequency selection circuitry configured to provide a higher order harmonic frequency component of the transmission signal to the frequency control circuitry; and second frequency selection circuitry configured to provide a higher order harmonic frequency component of the reference signal to the frequency control circuitry. The frequency control circuitry is configured to control the second pulse generating circuitry based on the higher order harmonic frequency component of the transmission signal and the higher order harmonic frequency component of the reference signal. Hereby, improved regulation of the reference signal can be achieved substantially without any increase in power consumption of the radar level gauge system. |
| US08686891B2 |
Locating device
The invention relates to a locating device, in particular a hand-guided locating device, with a locating unit (36) for detecting the presence of an object (16, 18) arranged in an examination object (14) by means of an examination signal (38), which has a polarization unit (50) provided for a procedure with the examination signal (38), and with a housing (20) for taking up the locating unit (36), which has a longitudinal axis (24). It is proposed that in at least one operating mode the polarization unit (50) specifies at least one first polarization plane (52, 54) aligned obliquely to the longitudinal axis (24). |
| US08686889B2 |
Analog frontend for CCD/CIS sensor
A system for signal processing comprising a cyclic analog to digital converter structure having a first stage and a second stage, wherein the first stage is configured to receive an input signal to perform 1.5 bits/stage ADC and to generate a first stage output signal, and the second stage is configured to receive the first stage output signal and to perform fine offset tuning using a final conversion phase. The second stage further configured to perform 1.5 bits/stage ADC and to generate a second stage output that is fed back to the first stage to iteratively generate a next 1.5 bits, until (N−3) most significant bits of N bits of data are generated. A third stage configured to generate a three least significant bits of the N bits of data using a flash ADC sampling circuit that samples a residue signal at the output of the first stage. |
| US08686885B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device having A/D converters for converting, by means of digital correction processing, analog input signals into digital signals is reduced in area. The semiconductor integrated circuit device has a first A/D converter and a second A/D converter. In a first mode, a first test signal is inputted to both the first and second A/D converters, and a first correction coefficient for the first A/D converter and a second correction coefficient for the second A/D converter are calculated. In a second mode, the first A/D converter converts a first analog signal into a first digital signal by subjecting the first analog signal to a first digital correction processing and the second A/D converter converts a second analog signal into a second digital signal by subjecting the second analog signal to a second digital correction processing. |
| US08686884B2 |
Testing of digital to analog converters in serial interfaces
A system and method for testing digital to analog converters (DAC) in a serial interface having a comparator to receive an input signal and a local offset signal is disclosed. A first DAC selectably provides one of a global offset to the input signal during a normal mode of operation and a first test signal to the comparator during a test mode of operation. A second DAC selectably provides one of the local offset signals to the comparator during the normal mode of operation and a second test signal to the comparator during the test mode of operation. A test module may cause the first DAC to determine a first test signal to provide to the local offset input of the comparator and may cause the second DAC to incrementally change a test signal provided to the comparator. |
| US08686878B2 |
Systems and methods for context sensitive notification
Methods and apparatus are provided for context sensitive notifications of incoming digital communications on an aircraft. The method comprises receiving a new datalink message from a sender on a device, the datalink message including a unique identifier associated with the sender, and determining if the sender is a new sender based on the unique identifier. The method comprises determining if the device is involved in an active exchange of datalink messages based on activity data associated with the device and outputting a first alert that the new datalink message has been received at an alert level below a current alert level if the sender is not a new sender and the device is engaged in the active exchange of datalink messages. |
| US08686875B2 |
Parking support device
A parking support device is provided for extracting detection point data corresponding to a corner portion of a parked vehicle 2 from detection point data showing a series of detection points at each of which the distance to the parked vehicle 2 is detected, performing a noise component removing process and a data complementing process using a curve approximation of the series of detection points on the extracted detection point data, estimating reflection points of a detection wave in the corner portion from the detection point data and sensor position data showing a moving path of a distance sensor 3, and measuring the length of a parking space adjacent to the parked vehicle 2 according to a corner position which is determined from the positions of the estimated reflection points to determine if a vehicle 1 can be parked in the parking space. |
| US08686872B2 |
Roadway condition warning on full windshield head-up display
A substantially transparent windscreen head-up display includes one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision therethrough. A method to dynamically register a graphic onto a driving scene of a vehicle utilizing a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display includes monitoring roadway conditions, identifying a potential roadway hazard based on the roadway conditions, determining the graphic identifying the potential roadway hazard, dynamically registering a location of the graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display corresponding to the driving scene of the vehicle, and displaying the graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display. |
| US08686868B2 |
Container handler alignment system and method
A system and method for assisting drivers of Bomb Carts and Shuttle Carriers to position their vehicles appropriately for loading and unloading containers at a gantry crane. The system uses laser scanners mounted at various levels on the gantry crane sill beams to determine the type, position, orientation and skew angle of the vehicles as well as whether the vehicles are in a loaded or unloaded condition. In addition, the system provides indicator devices to direct drivers how to move their vehicles. |
| US08686866B2 |
Intelligent patch panel sensor modules having infrared emitters and sensors for detecting patch cords
A communications patching system includes a patch panel having a plurality of connector ports on a side thereof, and a sensor module secured to the patch panel side. The sensor module includes a plurality of pairs of IR emitters and sensors, with each emitter/sensor pair located adjacent to a respective one of the connector ports. Each emitter/sensor pair is configured to detect insertion and removal of a patch cord connector from a respective connector port. The sensor module includes a housing and a printed circuit board (PCB) secured to the housing. The IR emitters and sensors are electrically connected to the PCB, and the PCB includes a processor and memory for controlling the IR emitters and sensors. |
| US08686865B2 |
Interactive technique to reduce irradiation from external source
Exemplary methods, systems and components enable detection and/or monitoring and/or control of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure of target body-related portions of a user operating a telecommunication device. In some embodiments a risk-assessment output is provided based on a safety threshold or predetermined intrusion level of EMR exposure. A further aspect may include interaction with external EMR sources regarding possible modification of emissions as well as possible arrangements for other types of remedial action. |
| US08686861B2 |
Object monitoring, locating, and tracking system and method employing RFID devices
An RFID system and method utilizes an RFID device, wherein the RFID device senses a thing or condition interior to a closable container at or proximate the RFID device and transmits messages. The messages include information uniquely identifying the RFID device and information relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device. Information in the received messages relating to the thing or condition sensed at or proximate the RFID device of messages are employed for determining whether the container is closed, is not closed, has been closed, or has been not closed, or any combination thereof, whereby an opening of and/or tampering with the container may be detected. Messages received from the RFID device, as well as an indication of a condition, may be relayed to a remote location. |
| US08686859B2 |
Method of identifying tagged articles
A method of identifying articles, each of which has a data carrier that includes identifying data of the article, the data carriers having an operation frequency, provides a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within an enclosure in which the articles are stored, even when the natural resonance frequency of the enclosure differs from the operation frequency of the data carriers. In one case data carriers comprise, RFID tags. The EM energy at the operation frequency that is injected into the enclosure to form the robust EM field is injected at a selected location in the enclosure so that the reflected phase of the EM energy from enclosure walls equals the location of injection thereby producing a robust EM field to activate and/or detect data carriers. Active impedance matching is also provided. |
| US08686858B2 |
Patient identification system
The patient identification system of the preferred embodiments includes a transponder that is affixed to a patient and functions to communicate information that identifies the patient to a device or series of devices. The series of devices includes at least a first device that collects data from the patient and communicates with the transponder. The patient identification system is preferably designed to identify a patient, and more specifically to identify a patient to be associated with the data collected by the device. The patient identification system, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason. |
| US08686854B2 |
System and method for forming optimized perimeter surveillance
A software module apparatus for enabling a user to generate a virtual tripwire through a geographic area of interest using a plurality of sensors. The apparatus may make use of an input for allowing a user to input a digital elevation model (DEM) of the area of interest. An input responsive to a user controlled device may also be used for defining a swath of the area of interest, the swath representing a subregion laying over, or adjacent to, a border to be monitored. A display may be generated for illustrating computed locations of a plurality of independent sensors used to form the virtual tripwire through the swath of the area of interest. |
| US08686848B2 |
Electric motor vehicle having a display device
An electric motor vehicle with an electric drive motor, an accumulator for storing electrical energy, an optical display device having a plurality of individually actuable lighting segments, and a display control device. To acquire important vehicle information easily and reliably by the display device, the lighting segments are arranged in such a way that they form an at least two-dimensional lighting segment field and irradiate light upward in the vertical direction. The display control device actuates the lighting segments of the lighting segment field such that the lighting segment field outputs a nondigital accumulator charge state information item and/or a nondigital vehicle operating state information item. |
| US08686847B2 |
Two axis antenna for TPMS sensor
A vehicle entry/tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle includes an ECU, LF antennas mounted on the vehicle and being in communication with the ECU, and tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle. Each LF antenna is configured to transmit an LF tire sensor wake up field and a SMART entry LF search field to wake up a portable transmission/reception unit for keyless entry of the vehicle tire sensor. Each tire sensor includes a two-axis receiver antenna and an RF transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal. Each two-axis receiver antenna is configured such that a first axis of the two-axis antenna is configured to detect a respective LF field transmitted by one of the LF antennas and a second axis of the two-axis antenna is configured to detect a respective LF field transmitted by another of the LF antennas. |
| US08686842B2 |
Door locking system for a motor vehicle
A door locking system is provided for a motor vehicle. The door locking system includes, but is not limited to a mechanical door opening safety catch and a warning unit configured to generate a first warning signal that is exclusively suppressed by a manual activation of the mechanical door opening safety catch. A motor vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a vehicle body, a rear vehicle door that is linked on the vehicle body and facing away from a vehicle travel direction, the rear vehicle door configured to pivot, a door opening safety catch configured to be mechanically activate upon the pivot of the rear vehicle door, and a warning unit configured to generate a first warning signal that is exclusively suppressed by the mechanical activation of the door opening safety catch. |
| US08686840B2 |
Accessory system for a vehicle
An accessory system for a vehicle includes an accessory disposed at and behind a windshield of the vehicle and a control having digital circuitry and a microcontroller. The accessory includes a forward facing camera that views through the windshield. The microcontroller may control at least one of (i) the forward facing camera, (ii) an actuator of the vehicle, (iii) a garage door opener of the vehicle, (iv) an electro-optic rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, (v) a digital sound processor of the vehicle, (vi) a display of the vehicle and (vii) lighting of the vehicle. The control is operable to at least one of send data to and receive data from at least one other accessory or system of the vehicle via a vehicle network of the vehicle. |
| US08686834B2 |
Terminal having radio frequency function and method of processing information of the terminal
Provided are a terminal having a radio frequency identification (RFID) function and a method of processing information of the terminal for allowing intuitive interaction between a screen manipulation and an RFID manipulation with respect to using an RFID related service. The method of processing the information of the terminal including a screen and an RFID recognition unit, includes detecting a screen area corresponding to a position of the RFID recognition unit disposed at a predetermined position of the screen; displaying an RFID icon at a position of the detected screen area; recording information in an RFID tag based on the RFID tag contacting the RFID icon, and recognizing the information from the RFID tag the RFID tag contacting the RFID icon. |
| US08686832B2 |
Device and system for providing current information for a geographic point of interest
A computer-based system manages and communicates the identity, attributes, and current state of a geographic point of interest. The system includes a beacon device and a distributed data network. The beacon device includes a housing supporting control electronics, a display, and communication electronics. The beacon is placed at a visible location at the geographic point of interest and receives information concerning the geographical point of interest. The display visibly communicates the information while the communication electronics communicates the same information to the distributed data network. A user can query a location-based service and receive the same information from the distributed data network that is being communicated by the display, assuring communication of accurate and consistent information concerning the geographic point of interest. |
| US08686831B2 |
Mobile tool facility
A mobile tool facility is provided having a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations. A portal system is positioned in an interior of the container and spaced from a container end allowing access to the portal system. The portal system is operable to control access into and out of the container. A radio frequency shield wall is positioned in the interior of the container and spaced from the portal system allowing access between the portal system and the shield wall. The shield wall is configured to reduce an amount of electromagnetic energy entering the interior of the container. An auxiliary power unit associated with the container is operable to provide power to the portal system. A plurality of items stored in the interior of the container in a controlled space is available to be removed from the container through the portal system by an authorized individual. |
| US08686826B2 |
Surface mountable PPTC device with integral weld plate
A surface mount circuit protection device includes a laminar PTC resistive element having first and second major surfaces and a thickness therebetween. A first electrode layer substantially coextensive the first surface is formed of a first metal material of a type adapted to be soldered to a printed circuit substrate. A second electrode layer formed at the second major surface includes structure forming or defining a weld plate. The metal weld plate has a thermal mass and thickness capable of withstanding resistance micro spot welding of a strap interconnect without significant resultant damage to the device. The device is preferably surface mounted to a printed circuit board assembly forming a battery protection circuit connected to a battery/cell by battery strap interconnects, wherein one of the battery strap interconnects is micro spot welded to the weld plate of the device. |
| US08686825B2 |
Oxidative opening switch assembly and methods
Embodiments of the invention are related to oxidative opening switches and related methods, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes a switch assembly including a first terminal, a second terminal, and an oxidative switch element in electrical communication with the first terminal and the second terminal, the switch element comprising a conductive material and an oxidizer, the switch element configured to interrupt electrical communication between the first terminal and the second terminal as a result of an oxidation reaction between the conductive material and the oxidizer. In an embodiment, the invention includes a fast opening switch for pulse power applications. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08686821B2 |
Inductor structure
An inductor structure including a plurality of solenoids and at least one connecting line is provided. One of the solenoids serves as a core, and the remaining solenoids are sequentially wound around the core solenoid. Axes of the solenoids are substantially directed to the same direction. Each connecting line is correspondingly connected between ends of two adjacent solenoids to serially connect the solenoids. |
| US08686820B2 |
Reactor
Provided is a reactor having a small size with consideration of loss reduction. A reactor 1A includes a coil 10 and a magnetic core 20. The coil 10 is formed by winding a wire. The magnetic core 20 includes an internal core portion 21 that is inserted through the coil 10 and a couple core portion 23 that is coupled to an end of the internal core portion 21 and that covers an outer periphery of the coil 10. The core portions 21 and 23 form a closed magnetic path. An interposed core portion 25 is disposed between the coil 10 and the internal core portion 21. The reactor 1A satisfies 0 |
| US08686819B2 |
Magnetic holding device and method for holding a substrate
A magnetic holding device is adapted for holding a mask during processing of a substrate. The magnetic holding device includes a substrate carrier which is adapted for receiving the substrate to be processed. The substrate carrier includes a permanent magnet adapted for generating a first magnetic field for holding the mask. Furthermore, the substrate carrier includes a solenoid which is adapted for generating a second magnetic field adapted for at least partially compensating the first magnetic field. In case the first magnetic field is compensated, at least partially, by means of the second magnetic field, the mask is released from the substrate carrier. |
| US08686818B2 |
Magnetic microparticle and method for manufacturing such a microparticle
A microparticle includes an oblong flexible tail able to propel the microparticle in a solution along a trajectory using beats transverse to the trajectory, the tail including at least one magnetic element such that the magnetic element causes beats of the tail under the action of an external alternating magnetic field non-collinear with the trajectory and a head mechanically connected to a proximal end of the tail. The microparticle includes at least one layer of material formed from one piece and including the tail and the head, the dimensions and/or shape of the head being selected such that the beats of the proximal end of the tail are limited with respect to the beats of the distal end of the tail and such that the head does not perform a complete revolution around an axis parallel to the trajectory under the effect of the external alternating magnetic field. |
| US08686814B2 |
Electric switching device with ultra-fast actuating mechanism and hybrid switch comprising one such device
A switching device having an ultra-fast actuating mechanism for opening electric contacts, the device having a propulsion coil and a conducting disk. A stationary contact collaborates in a closed position with a movable contact, said contacts being moved to an open position by repulsion of the conducting disk. A biasing device generates a closing force to hold the electrical contacts in the closed position. Latching means, for maintaining the movable contact in the open position, includes a magnetic yoke having an attraction coil providing an attraction force of a magnetic movable armature. The movable contact is supported by a contact-bearing support having drive means collaborating with the magnetic movable armature to cause movement thereof when movement of the movable contact takes place. |
| US08686812B2 |
Data transmitting and/or receiving apparatus
A waveguide for transmission of data signals therealong. Data signals are typically received from and/or transmitted to a remote location and subsequently passed to or emitted from the apparatus which allows the data to be processed. The waveguide includes a channel which has a cross-sectional shape, the angular orientation of which is changed at least one point along the length of the same so as to provide a waveguide which is less sensitive to interferences. The waveguide, in one embodiment, can also include recessed portions and/or ridges along the length of the channel which ensures that the waveguide can be formed in a more reliable and controlled manner. |
| US08686810B2 |
Frequency tuneable filter using a sliding system
A frequency-tunable filter using a sliding system is disclosed. The frequency-tunable filter includes: a housing, in which a multiple number of cavities are defined by partitions; a sub-cover, which is coupled to an upper portion of the housing and in which a guide groove is formed; at least one sliding member installed in the guide groove; a main cover coupled to an upper portion of the sub-cover; a resonator held in the cavity; and at least one tuning element coupled to a lower portion of the sliding member to be inserted inside the housing, where tuning is achieved by a sliding movement of the sliding member, and at least one first guide member is coupled to at least one side surface of the sliding member such that the first guide member guides a sliding movement by way of contact with the side surface of the guide groove. |
| US08686809B2 |
Ladder-type filter including a dielectric film having a side surface with a heightwise inclination
A ladder-type filter having plural elastic-wave resonators provided on a series arm and a parallel arm in a ladder shape on a piezoelectric substrate. Each of the elastic-wave resonators has an interdigital electrode. The interdigital electrode has plural electrode finger pairs formed of electrode fingers extending from first and second bus bars. The interdigital electrode included in the elastic-wave resonator provided on the parallel arm has an electrode cross width of the electrode fingers extending from the first and second bus bars 23 times or more of the wavelength of elastic waves excited by the interdigital electrodes. |
| US08686808B2 |
Band combining filter
A band combining filter for filtering a microwave signal having at least one band edge at a band edge transition frequency. The filter comprises a plurality of filter sections. Each filter section comprising 3dB hybrid couplers having input ports and output ports and resonators connected between the input ports and the output ports of the couplers.The filter sections are connected in cascade such that the outputs of one filter section are connected to the inputs of the next filter section in the cascade.A subset of the filter sections are high Q filter sections with the Q values of the resonators of those filter sections having values each of which are at least a factor of three higher than the Q values of the resonators of the remaining filter sections. |
| US08686807B2 |
Transmission line having a first higher power level carrying signal conductor separated by conductive vias from a second lower power level carrying signal conductor
Transmission lines for electronic devices such as microstrip and stripline transmission lines may be provided that include patterned conductive lines and a conductive paint in the patterned conductive lines. The transmission lines may include one or more planar ground conductors. The ground conductors may include conductive lines arranged in a crosshatch pattern with spaces between the conductive lines. The ground conductors may also include conductive paint in spaces within the crosshatched pattern. The ground conductors may form one or more ground planes for the transmission lines. |
| US08686806B2 |
Highly accurate temperature stable clock based on differential frequency discrimination of oscillators
An apparatus and a method for compensating for a mismatch in temperature coefficients of two oscillator frequencies to match a desired frequency ratio between the two oscillator frequencies over a temperature range. In one embodiment of a temperature sensor, first and second oscillators of different temperature characteristics are coupled to a differential frequency discriminator (DFD) circuit. The DFD circuit compensates for the different characteristics in order to match a frequency difference between the first and second frequencies over a temperature range. |
| US08686800B2 |
Frequency reference signal generating system and method for frequency synthesizers
A system for generating a frequency reference signal comprising an oscillator, a direct digital synthesizer coupled to the oscillator and configured to receive a signal output from the oscillator, a digital to analog converter coupled to the direct digital synthesizer and configured to receive a sampled signal from the direct digital synthesizer and to convert the sampled signal to an analog waveform, and a bandpass filter coupled to the digital to analog converter and configured to select an aliased output signal from the digital to analog converter at a Nyquist zone other than a first Nyquist zone and to output the frequency reference signal. |
| US08686793B2 |
Amplifier device with reiterable error correction scheme with balanced negative feedback
A very low distortion amplifier using one or more error correction loops based on a balanced error negative feedback scheme intrinsically and easily reiterable. Such loops are applied to a generic amplifier block A1 in order to reduce its error in a wide frequency band, without substantially interfering, in the correction process, with the main path of the useful signal Vi, to amplify, whereby the corrected amplifier preserves the same response, in time and frequency, the same dynamic behavior and the same stability margins in amplitude and phase, of the not corrected amplifier A1. This result is obtained by means of a balance and reference block A2, capable to decouple the error correction loop from the main path of the useful signal Vi, in a very wide frequency band. |
| US08686790B2 |
Distributed amplifier for band pass radio front-end
A distributed amplifier is provided that is broadband and band pass with controllable bandwidth. In the distributed amplifier circuit, termination impedance of the input transmission line is not matched with the characteristics impedance of the input transmission line and/or the termination impedance of the output transmission line is not matched with the characteristics impedance of the output transmission line, thus providing the broadband and band pass with controllable bandwidth attributes. |
| US08686788B2 |
Filter circuit
A circuit and method for filtering a signal. An amplifier receives an input signal and generates a differential output signal. A first resonator having series and parallel resonant frequencies is connected to the positive output port of the amplifier. A second resonator having series and parallel resonant frequencies is connected to the negative output port of the amplifier. The first and second resonators are coupled at a connection point. A buffering device receives the combined outputs of the resonators and outputs a filtered signal. The filtering method receives signals and passes them through the elements of the filter circuit to generate a filtered output signal. |
| US08686787B2 |
High voltage ring pump with inverter stages and voltage boosting stages
A multi-stage device for boosting an input voltage is discussed. Each stage of the device comprises a stage of a ring oscillator and a charge pump. An oscillating signal, generated by the ring oscillator within the device, drives the charge pump in each stage of the device. The charge pumps of the stages are serially connected. A final stage of the multi-stage device is adapted to provide voltage to a load circuit. The multi-stage device is applicable for generation of different bias voltages from one or more source voltages. |
| US08686779B2 |
Calibration of linear time-invariant system's step response
The invention concerns in general measurement of the transfer function of linear time invariant systems, more particular the calibration of such systems based on a measured transfer function. According to a first aspect the present invention an arrangement for measuring the transfer function of a linear time-invariant system is disclosed. According to a second aspect of the present invention the arrangement is implemented into a linear time-invariant circuitry having a transfer function representing the amplitude and phase characteristic of the circuitry, where by means of the arrangement for measuring the transfer function the transfer function can be optimized in accordance with certain criteria on-the-fly, i.e. in or before operation of the circuit. Finally, an effective and simple method for measuring of the transfer function of a linear time-invariant system together with the use or application of the method is shown. |
| US08686774B2 |
Control circuit and data hold device using the control circuit
A control circuit 10 includes an internal clock generating portion (12), which starts generating an internal clock signal (LCLK) required by a control portion (11) to perform action when a specific signal pattern appears in a trigger signal, continually generates the internal clock signal (LCLK) at least before the control portion (11) completes predetermined processing, and then stops generating the internal clock signal (LCLK); and the control portion (11), which uses the internal clock signal (LCLK) to perform the predetermined processing. |
| US08686771B2 |
Digital phase-locked loop with wide capture range, low phase noise, and reduced spurs
The present disclosure is directed to digital phase-locked loops (DPLLs) and hybrid phase-locked loops (HPLL) for establishing and maintaining a phase relationship between a generated output signal and a reference input signal. The DPLLs use a counter based loop to initially bring the DPLL into lock. Thereafter, the DPLLs disable the counter based loop and switch to a loop with a multi-modulus divider (MMD). The DPLLs can implement a cancellation technique to reduce phase noise introduced by the MMD. The HPLLs further include a loop with a MMD. The HPLLs can implement a similar cancellation technique to reduce phase noise introduced by the MMD. |
| US08686767B1 |
Apparatus and method for a programmable timing in peak current mode controlled power converters
An apparatus and a method for a programmable timing in digital integrated circuits implementing peak current mode controlled power converters are disclosed. The programmable dead-time is implemented by means implemented in hardware, software, and combination of hardware and software, carrying out setting a second timer value; setting a third timer value with respect to the second timer value; detecting a reset event; reloading a second counter from a current timer value to the second timer value upon detecting the reset event; resetting a second pulse width modulated waveform amplitude from a second amplitude value to a first amplitude value upon detecting the reset event; and setting a first pulse width modulated waveform from a first amplitude value to a second value upon the second counter reaching a third value. |
| US08686766B2 |
Read out integrated circuit
According to one embodiment, a circuit comprises a Capacitive Trans-Impedance Amplifier (CTIA) configured to receive a current pulse at an input and convert the current pulse to a voltage step. The voltage step is directed to a first signal path and a second signal path. When the voltage step exceeds a first threshold, the first signal path directs an enable pulse to the second signal path. The second signal path generates an output pulse when the voltage step exceeds a second threshold and the enable pulse is enabled. The second signal path comprises a first, a second, and a third amplifier to increase detection of the voltage step by the second signal path. |
| US08686765B2 |
Driver circuit
A circuit may include an input node configured to receive a signal and an output node configured to be coupled to a load. The circuit may also include a first circuit coupled between the input node and the output node. The first circuit may be configured to receive the signal and to drive the signal on the output node at a first voltage. The circuit may also include an active device coupled to the output node and a second circuit coupled to the active device and the input node. The second circuit may be configured to receive the signal and to drive the signal to the active device at a second voltage that is approximately equal to the first voltage. |
| US08686764B2 |
Edge selection techniques for correcting clock duty cycle
Circuits and methods are provided for generating clock signals and correcting duty cycle distortion in clock signals. A circuit for generating a clock signal includes a multiplexer circuit and an edge-triggered flip-flop circuit. The multiplexer circuit selectively outputs one of a plurality of input clock signals. The edge-triggered flip-flop detects a transitioning edge of the input clock signal that is selectively output from the multiplexer circuit, and in response to the detection, samples a logic level of a received data signal, and generates a transition of an output clock signal at an output port of the edge-triggered flip-flop. The multiplexer circuit selectively outputs one of the plurality of input clock signals to a clock signal port of the edge-triggered flip-flop, based on a logic level of the output clock signal at the output port of the edge-triggered flip-flop, which is input to a select control port of the multiplexer circuit. |
| US08686761B2 |
Gate driver and switching power source apparatus
A gate driver of a switching element includes a first capacitor having a first end connected to a DC power source, a first switch having a first electrode connected to the first end of the first capacitor and a second electrode connected to a negative electrode of the DC power source, a second switch having a third electrode connected to the second electrode and the negative electrode of the DC power source and a fourth electrode connected to the first capacitor, a second capacitor connected in parallel with the third and fourth electrodes of the second switch and having a first end connected to the DC power source, and a negative voltage controller connecting the gate of the switching element to the second end of the first capacitor and a second end of the second capacitor when the switching element is turned off. |
| US08686760B2 |
Buffer and driving method of the same
A buffer and a driving method thereof are provided. The buffer includes a first transistor for transmitting a first power source voltage to an output terminal according to an input voltage, a second transistor for transmitting an inverted voltage of the input voltage to the output terminal, a capacitor including a first terminal coupled to a gate of the second transistor and a second terminal configured to be input with a first level voltage or a second level voltage according to the input voltage, and a third transistor for transmitting a second power source voltage to the gate of the second transistor according to the input voltage. |
| US08686758B1 |
Integrated circuit with configurable I/O transistor arrangement
I/O circuits and a method for transmitting different types of I/O signals are disclosed. An embodiment of the I/O circuit comprises multiple transistors with multiple switches coupled to the transistors. The switches may be used to selectively couple the transistors to a power source or to another transistor to form different transistor configurations. The transistors may be configured to form a parallel configuration or a stacked configuration. Stacking up transistors may reduce voltage swings in the transistors and subsequently reduce degradation in the transistors. |
| US08686755B2 |
Double data rate clock gating
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided to implement clock gating with double data rate (“DDR”) logic. In traditional single data rate (“SDR”) clock gating, disabling the clock holds the clock logic level to a predefined value, potentially causing a logic transition that would be erroneously interpreted as a normal clock transition by DDR logic. Similar techniques can also be utilized to convert a SDR clock to a half-frequency DDR clock for use with DDR logic, realizing the energy efficiencies of DDR clocking. |
| US08686754B2 |
Configurable lane architecture in source synchronous systems
A system and method for utilizing multiple configurable lanes for clock and data transfer in source synchronous systems that may utilize a clock signal from another source for interpreting data received from the source. In an embodiment, a system may include a transmitter configured to transmit at least one clock signal and at least one data signal to a receiver device. The receiver device may have at least one clock lane and at least one data lane for receiving signals from the transmitter device. The clock lane(s) and data lane(s) can be arranged in any order as per requirement of system design. In the receiver, after manufacture, each data lane may be configured to be clocked by any clock lane. |
| US08686749B2 |
Thermal interface material, test structure and method of use
Non-corrosive thermal interface materials for use in a test structure and method of use. The test structure includes a heat sink for dissipating heat away from a device under test. The test structure further includes a non-corrosive thermal interface material disposed between the heat sink and the device under test. The non-corrosive thermal interface material is capable of withstanding test conditions for at least 60 minutes for at least 115° C. without staining or leaving residue on the device under test after baking. |
| US08686746B2 |
Test apparatus and method for measuring common-mode capacitance
Disclosed is a test apparatus for measuring the common-mode parasitic capacitance between a first element and a second element being isolated from the first element. The test apparatus includes a signal generating device connected to the first element and having an internal signal source connected in series with a first internal impedance for sending a signal to the first element, and a signal receiving device connected between the second element and the first element and having a second internal impedance for measuring a signal response between the first element and the second element, thereby calculating the common-mode capacitance between the first element and the second element based on the signal response. |
| US08686745B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring water content and salt concentration in a multiphase fluid flow
An apparatus and a method are described for measuring water content and salt concentration in a multiphase fluid flow. A capacitive sensor (6, 7) is arranged in a pipe section (5) through which the multiphase fluid flow passes. A signal generator (10) is connected to the capacitive sensor (6, 7). A first measuring transducer (40) is adapted to measure a voltage across the capacitive sensor, and a second measuring transducer (50) is adapted to measure a current through the capacitive sensor. An output circuit (60) is adapted to generate output signals (70, 72) that indicate the salt concentration and water content in the multiphase fluid flow, based on signals emitted from the first (40) and the second (50) measuring transducer. |
| US08686737B2 |
Diagnostic circuit and method of testing a circuit
A diagnostic circuit is configured for connecting to a unit under test that has a load and a sinusoidal source. The diagnostic circuit includes a voltage sensing device that has an input for sensing a signal, a first terminal for connecting to the load, a second terminal for connecting to the sinusoidal source, and a relay connected between the first and second terminals for connecting the sinusoidal source to the load. Clamping diodes are provide for clamping a sinusoidal signal and include a first clamping diode connected between a D/C voltage source and the input and a second clamping diode connected between ground and the input. A resistor is connected between the D/C voltage source and the first terminal. The diagnostic circuit verifies the operational functionality of the load, related wiring and connections. |
| US08686733B2 |
Ionization gauge having electron multiplier cold emission source
An ionization gauge includes an electron generator array that includes a microchannel plate that includes an electron generating portion of the microchannel plate comprising a source for generating seed electrons and an electron multiplier portion of the microchannel plate, responsive to the seed electrons generated by the electron generating portion, that multiplies the electrons. The ionization gauge includes an ionization volume in which the electrons impact a gaseous species, and a collector electrode for collecting ions formed by the impact between the electrons and gas species. The collector electrode can be surrounded by the anode, or the ionization gauge can be formed with multiple collector electrodes. The source of electrons can provide for a spontaneous emission of electrons, where the electrons are multiplied in a cascade. |
| US08686725B2 |
System and apparatus for frequency translation of magnetic resonance (MR) signals
An apparatus includes a first magnetic resonance (MR) coil element configured to output a first set of MR data at a first output frequency and a first mixer coupled to the first MR coil element. The first mixer is configured to receive the first set of MR data from the first MR coil element and frequency translate the first set of MR data to a first offset frequency different from the first output frequency by a first offset value. The apparatus also includes a digitizer coupled to the first mixer and configured to convert the frequency-translated first set of MR data into a set of digital data and a transmission line coupled to the first mixer and to the digitizer, the transmission line configured to transmit the frequency-translated first set of MR data from the MR coil element to the digitizer without a balun coupled to the transmission line. |
| US08686724B2 |
System for emulating nuclear magnetic resonance well logging tool diffusion editing measurements on a bench-top nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for laboratory-scale rock core analysis
A laboratory NMR methodology (and corresponding laboratory apparatus) defines a sample volume. The method stores downhole tool data corresponding to a hydrocarbon-bearing sample collected from a given subsurface formation. The downhole tool data includes parameters pertaining to magnetic fields used by a downhole tool during a suite of NMR measurements of the given subsurface formation. The sample is positioned in the sample volume of the laboratory apparatus, which applies a static magnetic field in the sample volume. Furthermore, the laboratory apparatus applies a suite of NMR measurements to the sample volume to thereby determine a property of the sample. The NMR measurements of the suite each include a pulse sequence of oscillating magnetic field in conjunction with a pulsed-mode gradient field. The pulsed-mode gradient field is based on the stored downhole tool data corresponding to the sample. A laboratory NMR methodology for optimizing downhole NMR measurements is also described. |
| US08686722B2 |
Semiconductor fluxgate magnetometer
A fluxgate magnetometer is formed in a semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence, which significantly reduces the size and cost of the fluxgate magnetometer. The semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence attaches a die, which has drive and sense circuits, to the bottom surface of a cavity formed in a larger structure, and forms drive and sense coils around a magnetic core structure on the top surface of the larger structure. |
| US08686719B2 |
Method for estimating the magnetization level of one or more permanent magnets established in one or more permanent magnet rotors of a wind turbine generator and wind turbine
A method for estimating the magnetization level of one or more permanent magnets established in one or more permanent magnet rotors of a wind turbine generator includes the steps of: establishing one or more magnetization sensors at the stator of the generator, connecting the one or more magnetization sensors to a measuring mechanism, processing measured data in the measuring mechanism, and establishing values of magnetization. Furthermore the invention also relates to a wind turbine. |
| US08686717B2 |
Position sensor arrangement
A position sensor arrangement that can determine the two-dimensional position of a variety of different movable devices, such as an electronic joystick. According to one embodiment, the position sensor arrangement includes two pair of magnetic sensing elements that are angularly offset or skewed with respect to one another in order to provide redundancy and accuracy with a minimum number of sensing elements. |
| US08686714B2 |
Electromechanical transducer and a method of providing an electromechanical transducer
The invention relates to an electromechanical transducer (100). The electromechanical transducer (100) comprises a cantilever beam (101) and an excitation unit (102) that is adapted for exciting a motion of the cantilever beam (101). A detection unit (103) is adapted for detecting an electrical signal (iout) in response to the excited motion of the cantilever beam (101). |
| US08686710B1 |
Electromagnetic wave driven rotation device
The electromagnetic wave driven rotation device provides instrumentation for cataloging environmental anomalies that may occur along the circumferential path of a rotating electromagnetic (EM) wave beam having sufficient RPM that the instantaneous change in radial direction of the beam approaches light speed. Under those conditions, it is hypothesized that environmental anomalies, such as energy spikes, which ultimately can be harnessed as an energy source, may occur along or proximate to the circumferential beam path. Sensors may be disposed along the circumferential path of the rotating beam. Sensor data providing energy readings may be recorded in real time. Any sensor data collected may be analyzed in real time, and also post-processed. Since the wavefront energy is known along the circumference, any energy spikes recorded may be attributed to mass-like sub-measurable elements of space that may have come in contact with the mass-like components of the high speed rotating electromagnetic wave. |
| US08686708B2 |
Switching circuit
A switching circuit includes: a switching section including at least one first terminal, a plurality of second terminals, and a switching element configured to connect the first terminal to one of the second terminals; a driver driving the switching element in accordance with an external terminal switching control signal; a DC-to-DC converter, which supplies electric power to the driver, having a first state with a response to a load transient and a second state with the response to a load transient being slower than the first state; and a power controller controlling the DC-to-DC converter to operate with the first state during a first time period corresponding to change in the external terminal switching control signal, and to operate with the second state during a second time period other than the first time period. |
| US08686707B2 |
Voltage regulator with power saving function
A voltage regulator with a low quiescent current is provided. The voltage regulator includes a pulse voltage generating unit, a first switch unit, a regulating unit and a power output unit. The pulse voltage generating unit receives an input voltage to provide an intermittent signal with a predetermined period, and output a pulse voltage according to the intermittent signal. The first switch unit is turned on according to the intermittent signal. The regulating unit converts the pulse voltage into a continuous voltage. The power output unit receives the continuous voltage to output a voltage power through a power output terminal. And, the power output unit detects an output current of the power output terminal to adjust current drive capability of the power output unit dynamically. Thus, the pulse voltage generating unit consumes power while the intermittent signal is enabled, so as to achieve the power saving effect. |
| US08686706B2 |
Reference voltage regulating method and circuit for constant current driver
The present invention relates to reference voltage regulating methods and circuits for a constant current driver. In one embodiment, a method can include: setting a reference voltage circuit matching with a current output channel of a constant current source; setting a first resistor of the reference voltage circuit to follow an ideal equivalent resistor of the current output channel, and maintaining a proportion of the first resistor and the ideal equivalent resistor to be no less than a predetermined value M; setting a first current of the reference voltage circuit to follow an ideal output current of the current output channel, and maintaining a proportion of the first current and the ideal output current to be no less than 1/M; and setting a product of the first current and the first resistor to be a reference voltage of the reference voltage circuit. |
| US08686705B2 |
Current mode synchronous rectification DC/DC converter
A current mode synchronous rectification direct current (DC)/DC converter according to the present invention includes: a soft start function unit (in FIG. 1, a reference voltage generation unit (104) enabling a reference voltage REF to slowly increase while starting), for inhibiting a target value of an output voltage VO to be lower than that at a normal action while starting; and an output stabilization function unit (in FIG. 1, a frequency variable type oscillator (110A) generating a clock signal CLK and a slope voltage SLOPE through an oscillation frequency corresponding to a reference voltage REF), for performing at least one of waiting for start of a switching action and reduction of a drive frequency while starting. |
| US08686704B2 |
Current sense circuit and switching regulator using the same
A current sense circuit for use with a switching regulator including a first transistor, connected to an inductor, configured to switch a current flowing through the inductor from a power supply; and a second transistor, connected to a node to which the inductor and the first transistor are connected, configured to be turned on during a part of an OFF period of the first transistor. The current sense circuit includes a current generator configured to generate a sense current corresponding to a current flowing through the first transistor; a hold circuit configured to output a voltage corresponding to the sense current during an ON period of the first transistor, and to hold and output the voltage corresponding to the sense current during the OFF period of the first transistor; and an output transistor configured to generate a current corresponding to the voltage output by the hold circuit. |
| US08686703B2 |
Switching power supply with fixed off time mode and control method thereof
The present invention provides a controller used in a switching power supply. The controller comprises an oscillator, a first comparison circuit and a logic circuit. The oscillator generates a slope compensation signal and a clock signal. The first comparison circuit generates a first comparison signal in accordance with a current sensing signal, a feedback signal and the slope compensation signal. The logic circuit generates a control signal to control the main switch based on the clock signal and the first compensation signal. If the on time of the main switch is longer than the predetermined time period, the slope compensation signal will have a first slew rate during the predetermined time period and a second slew rate out of the predetermined time period, wherein the second slew rate is smaller than the first slew rate. |
| US08686702B2 |
Negative slope compensation for current mode switching power supply
Generated are an error signal representative of a difference between a signal representative of the output voltage of a current mode switching power supply and a reference voltage, and a peak current threshold signal that is indicative of a peak current that should be reached in an inductor within the power supply during each cycle of a periodic clock signal and that has a level that is based on the error signal. A switch control signal regulates the voltage output of the power supply by closing and then opening a power switch during each cycle of the periodic clock signal. Timing of opening is based on the peak current threshold signal. Negative slope compensation causes the switch control circuit to delay opening the power switch during each cycle of the periodic clock signal in an amount that decreases with increasing duty cycles of the switch control signal. |
| US08686700B2 |
Boost type power converting apparatus with protection circuit
A boost type power converting apparatus is disclosed. The boost type power converting apparatus includes a boost type power converting circuit and a protection circuit. The boost type power converting circuit receives an input voltage and generates an output signal at an output terminal thereof according to the input voltage, and outputs the output signal to a load. The protection circuit is coupled between the boost type power converting circuit and the load in serial to form an electrical loop, and turns on or off the electrical loop according to the output signal. |
| US08686695B2 |
Direct power and stator flux vector control of a generator for wind energy conversion system
A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude. |
| US08686692B2 |
Charge control system
An in-vehicle charge control system includes a vehicle-state detector that detects a running state of a vehicle, a battery-state detector that detects a charge level of an in-vehicle battery, a fuel-efficiency-enhancement controller that predicts a discharge amount to be discharged by the battery under a discharge condition, sets a lower limit of the battery charge level on the basis of the battery charge level detected by the detector such that the lower limit of the battery charge level is higher than a battery charge level at which the battery begins to degrade by the predicted discharge amount, and controls a power generation amount of a vehicle generator according to the vehicle state detected by the detector. The system with this configuration can maintain the battery charge level and enhance the fuel efficiency simultaneously under practical use conditions. |
| US08686691B2 |
Determination system and determination method for determining whether metal lithium is precipitated in a lithium ion secondary battery, and vehicle equipped with the determination system
A determination system for determining whether metal lithium is precipitated in a lithium ion secondary battery includes: a discharging unit that causes the lithium ion secondary battery to perform constant current discharge until a voltage of the lithium ion secondary battery becomes a voltage corresponding to a predetermined low state of charge; a natural increase acquisition unit that acquires a natural increase in voltage of the lithium ion secondary battery after the constant current discharge is terminated; and a precipitation determining unit the compares the acquired natural increase with a predetermined threshold, that determines that the metal lithium is not precipitated when the natural increase is larger than or equal to the threshold, and that determines that the metal lithium is precipitated when the natural increase is smaller than the threshold. |
| US08686689B2 |
Battery assembly
A battery assembly includes a bare cell; a protection circuit module electrically connected to the bare cell and having a first terminal portion; a holder case between the bare cell and the protection circuit module, the holder case having a second terminal portion, a terminal connection portion connected to the second terminal portion and an insulating support, wherein the protection circuit module is coupled to the holder case such that the first terminal portion is electrically coupled to the terminal connection portion. |
| US08686678B2 |
Electric motor, and device for generating a signal for controlling the same
An electric motor, having a stator (465), a rotor (470), and an apparatus for evaluating a signal provided for controlling said motor (110), comprises a receiving unit (430, 440) for receiving a control signal (PWM_mod), which is a pulse width modulated signal (PWM) onto which a data signal (DIR, DATA) is modulated. An evaluation unit (440) is provided for evaluating the modulated control signal (PWM_mod). The unit is configured to extract, from the modulated control signal (PWM_mod), data provided for operation of the motor (110). The control apparatus includes a signal generator (450) configured to generate, on the basis of the extracted or ascertained data provided for operation of the motor (110), at least one control signal for the motor (110), such as a commanded direction of rotation. Piggybacking other control data onto the PWM power level signal reduces hardware investment, by permitting omission of a signal lead which would otherwise be required in the motor structure. |
| US08686676B2 |
Trash can with power operated lid
A trash can with a power operated lid can include a sensor assembly and a lifting mechanism. The sensor assembly can include at least one light emitter and at least one light receiver, the viewing area of the at least one light receiver being limited in size. The lifting mechanism can include a controller, a drive motor, and a lifting member. The trash can with power operated lid can further include at least one position sensor for detecting the position of the lid. |
| US08686667B2 |
Lighting power source with controlled charging operation for driving capacitor
A lighting power source provides AC or DC power as needed to power an electric light source. A first switching element and a diode are coupled in series across output ends of a DC power source, with a second switching element coupled across the diode. An inductor forms an output loop with the diode. A driving capacitor has a first end coupled to a node between the first switching element and the diode. A charging power source is coupled to a second end of the driving capacitor and supplied with power from the DC power source. During a charging operation, a control circuit charges the driving capacitor by turning on the second switching element while maintaining the first switching element in an OFF state. During a normal operation which follows the charging operation the control circuit repeatedly turns on/off the first switching element while maintaining the second switching element in the OFF state. |
| US08686666B2 |
Method and device for remote sensing and control of LED lights
A control system is disclosed for determining an actual temperature of a light emitting diode. The control system uses conductor that supply power to the light emitting diode to supply a pulse to the light emitting diode. The pulse is determined along with a reaction caused by the pulse and the information gained is used in determination of the light emitting diode die temperature which can then be used in controlling current to the light emitting diode to control the temperature of the light emitting diode. |
| US08686662B1 |
Timed supercapacitor charge-up and emergency illumination
Exit and egress lighting, emergency lighting or emergency light fixture, having internal supercapacitor power sources are recharged after a power outage using a staggered power up process. For example, once an emergency light fixture detects a power-on transition from power being unavailable on a power source to power being available from the power source, the fixture waits a predetermined time to recharge a supercapacitor based on a charge time delay value. The predetermined time may be selected to be unique for one or several emergency light fixtures so as to distribute a combined peak power demand of the fixtures. After the predetermined time has expired, the supercapacitor is electrically coupled to a power source to in order to recharge the supercapacitor. |
| US08686661B2 |
LED dimming method and LED dimming system
The present invention discloses a LED dimming method and a LED dimming system, wherein the LED dimming method comprises the following steps: A: calculating the equivalent current flowing through the LED in accordance with the duty cycle message of the input PWM signal; and B: regulating the current flowing through the LED to the equivalent current. Because the equivalent current flowing through the LED is calculated by the duty cycle message D of the input PWM signal while the duty cycle is not actually regulated, the present invention realizes the aim that the dimming uniformity is improved by linearly regulating the current flowing through the LED. Meanwhile, transformer noise will not be generated because current flows through the transformer in the overall dimming cycle. |
| US08686658B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-state switch networks
A multi-state switch network is provided that includes a serially connected diode pair configured to receive a single control signal at a control node. The serially-connected diode pair is configured to control a pair of switches. Moreover, the single control signal is operative to drive the serially connected diode pair to a first state, a second state, or a third state based at least in part on a state of the single control signal. Furthermore, the single control signal is operative to alternatively turn ON a first diode of the diode pair and turn OFF a second diode of the diode pair when the state of the single control signal is a first state, turn OFF the first diode and turn ON the second diode when the state of the single control signal is a second state, and turn OFF the first diode and turn OFF the second diode when the state of the single control signal is a third state. |
| US08686657B2 |
Power supply device and light-emitting element drive device
A power supply device includes a convertor and an arithmetic circuit. The convertor supplies electric power by performing an ON and OFF operation of a switching element. The arithmetic circuit calculates a control command value at predetermined intervals based on a digital value, which reflects an output voltage of the convertor, from a conversion circuit. Based on the control command value, a pulse signal generation circuit determines a duty ratio of a pulse signal to make the output voltage of the convertor stable. A driving signal with a finely adjusted duty ratio can be generated by an operation clock signal having a lower frequency than a conventional device. As a result, the number of output lines is appropriate if there is at least a single output line for the pulse signal from the pulse signal generation circuit. |
| US08686655B2 |
Lighting circuit, lamp, and illumination apparatus
A lighting circuit that is for a lamp including an LED as a light source and that includes a resonant circuit that can be designed with ease. A lighting circuit 11 is for a lamp including a light-emitter 39 composed of an LED as a light source. The lighting circuit comprises: a rectifier circuit 31 that rectifies power supplied from an alternating current power supply via a base 28; an inverter circuit 33 connected to an output side of the rectifier circuit 31 and outputting alternating power to the LED; and a resonant circuit 35 connected to an output side of the inverter circuit 33, wherein the resonant circuit 35 includes an inductor L and a capacitor C1 and is connected in series with the light-emitter 39, the inductor L and the capacitor C1 being connected in series. |
| US08686654B2 |
Efficiency regulation for LED illumination
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a switch-mode regulator, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of using a switch-mode regulator to regulate an LED current to improve overall LED system efficacy and suppress power consumption of a dimmable LED illumination system. Both high and moderate brightness modes are implemented in an LED driver based on the switch-mode regulator. In the high brightness mode, the LED current is larger than a preferred LED current. In the moderate brightness mode, the LED current is smaller than the preferred LED current, and the LED driver sustains the preferred driver efficiency while the LED current remains as a direct current. Such a switch-mode power supply or regulator may also be used in applications other than the LED illumination system. |
| US08686651B2 |
Multiple stage sequential current regulator
An LED driver circuit is disclosed. The top of a string of series connected LED segments is connected to the output of a rectifier, which in turn is connected to an AC source. The string is tapped at various locations, including the bottom of the string. Each segment can consists of any number of serial or parallel connected LEDs. Current control elements or regulators sink current at each tap and are sequentially turned on and off one at a time, tracking the rectified sine wave voltage. Voltage across each regulator and current when conducting is individually controllable. The regulators may control current in a multitude of ways, including a constant current, or a current dependent on voltage across the regulators including a resistor, or a combination. The driver is self-commutating, with the sequencing of the current control elements an inherent feature closely integrated with the current control elements and providing optimal performance over variable operating conditions. |
| US08686647B2 |
Lighting control system and lighting control method
Plural luminaires are installed in a lighting space surrounded by a wall part. A sensor equipment detects existence or nonexistence of a person in the lighting space. If existence of a person in the lighting space is detected, the sensor equipment detects a direction of the person. The sensor equipment detects a distance between the wall part positioned in front of the direction of the person and the person. A lighting control unit selectively switches between a first control for performing lighting control of the luminaires to illuminate the wall part positioned in front of the direction of the person if the detected distance is a specified distance or less, and a second control for performing lighting control of the luminaires to reduce brightness at a place as the place becomes farther from a position of the person if the detected distance is larger than the specified distance. |
| US08686637B2 |
Organic EL device
An organic EL device includes a first substrate having electrical conductivity, an organic layer formed on the first substrate, an electrode layer formed on the organic layer, and a second substrate joined to the electrode layer by an adhesive layer. In a region of a peripheral portion of the first substrate, the organic layer is not formed, and a portion of the electrode layer is provided on the first substrate through an insulating layer so as to extend to an outer peripheral side of a region where the organic layer is present. The extended electrode layer is folded back together with the insulating layer to a side opposite to the second substrate, to constitute an electrode taking-out portion. |
| US08686636B2 |
Lamp assembly having light source with luminance peak portion at one of the long sides of the light source
A lamp assembly is provided, that utilizes a light source including an LED element without cutting part of light therefrom and capable of forming a luminance distribution where the light with a maximum peak portion can be arranged substantially at (i.e., at or near) the cutoff line, thereby improving light utilization efficiency. The lamp assembly with an illumination direction can include a light source including an LED element with an emission surface, and a projection optical system for projecting an image of the light source in the illumination direction so that a desired light distribution pattern can be formed on a virtual vertical screen. The light source can have a rectangular shape having long sides and short sides, and can be configured to provide a luminance distribution on the emission surface such that a luminance peak portion is provided at or near one of the long sides. |
| US08686634B2 |
Organic light emitting display and method for manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display (OLED) including a transparent substrate, a mirror layer, a transparent insulating layer, and an organic light emitting displaying layer is provided. The mirror layer is disposed on the transparent substrate and has a plurality of openings. The transparent insulating layer is disposed on the transparent substrate and covers the mirror layer. The organic light emitting displaying layer is disposed on the transparent insulating layer and has a plurality of pixel regions. The openings are aligned to the pixel regions respectively. In addition, a method for manufacturing the OLED is also provided. |
| US08686630B2 |
Organic electroluminescence element and illumination device using the same
Disclosed are an organic electroluminescence element with significantly improved light extraction efficiency and improved film properties and an illumination device that uses said element. The organic electroluminescence element has a transparent electrode, an organic electroluminescence layer, and a cathode sequentially stacked on a transparent base material. The element is characterized in that the transparent base material is a transparent resin film, there is a hard coat layer on both sides, the respective refractive indices satisfy the expressions (1)-(4), and there is a function to scatter light to the light emission side with respect to the organic electroluminescence layer. Expression (1): −0.2≦n(H1)−n(A)≦0.2, Expression (2): −0.1≦n(H1)−n(B)≦0.1, Expression (3): −0.1≦n(H2)−n(B)≦0.1, Expression (4): −0.1≦n(H1)−n(H2)≦0.1. In the expressions, n(A) is the refractive index of the transparent electrode; n(H1) is the refractive index of the hard coat layer (on the transparent electrode side); n(H2) is the refractive index of the hard coat layer (on the side opposite the transparent electrode); and n(B) is the refractive index of the transparent resin film. |
| US08686628B2 |
Anthracene derivative
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel material which has excellent light-emitting efficiency, a light-emitting element provided with the novel material, and a light-emitting device using the light-emitting element. The present invention provides an anthracene derivative represented by the following general formula (1) |
| US08686627B2 |
Perforated-electrode organic light-emitting diodes
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) uses a π-conjugated polymer emissive layer (MEH-PPV) sandwiched between two semitransparent electrodes. The preferred embodiment utilizes an optically thin gold film anode, whereas the cathode was in the form of an optically thick aluminum (Al) film with patterned periodic subwavelength 2D hole array that showed anomalous transmission in the spectral range of the polymer photoluminescence band. At similar current densities we obtained a seven-fold electroluminescence efficiency enhancement with the patterned Al device compared with a control device based on unperforated Al electrode. |
| US08686622B2 |
Composite substrate and method for manufacturing the same
The composite substrate is a substrate used to manufacture an acoustic wave device, and includes a support substrate, a piezoelectric substrate, and a adhesive layer with which the support substrate and the piezoelectric substrate are bonded to each other. In the composite substrate, assuming that a surface of the piezoelectric substrate that is bonded to the support substrate is defined as a first surface and a surface at the side opposite to the first surface is defined as a second surface, the piezoelectric substrate is formed such that the first surface is inside the second surface when the first surface is projected onto the second surface in a direction perpendicular to the second surface. In other words, the composite substrate has an outer peripheral surface that is formed such that the circumference thereof increases toward the top surface of the piezoelectric substrate. |
| US08686621B2 |
Piezoelectric devices and methods for manufacturing the same
The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a piezoelectric device that is less likely to be damaged during the cutting process from a wafer into individual pieces, and can be measured at the wafer without being affected by adjacent piezoelectric devices. The piezoelectric device includes: a first plate which constitutes a part of the package for storing the vibrating portion, having a pair of first edges and second edges situated vertically to the first edges; a second plate bonded to the first plate and constitutes another part of the package for storing the vibrating portion; and an adhesive for bonding the first plate and the second plate together. A pair of castellations is formed on each first edge, situated symmetrical to a straight line that passes through a centerline of the first plate and is parallel to the second edge. The present disclosure also provides methods for manufacturing. |
| US08686612B2 |
Brush arrangement for electrical machine
An electrical machine, in particular an electric motor, has a first number (k) of commutator laminates (10, 12, 14) and brushes (16, 18), wherein the commutator laminates (10, 12, 14) are arranged distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction of a circumference of a laminate support (24). The brushes (16, 18) are arranged such that commutation times are distributed as uniformly as possible in order to reduce current ripple when using a wave winding and a number of brushes (16, 18) which is less than a number of poles (2p) in the electrical machine. |
| US08686611B2 |
Motor
A motor may include a motor main body and an urging member. The urging member is provided with an end plate part having a plate spring part for urging the rotor and an engaging plate part which is extended along an outer peripheral face of a tube-like body part structuring an outer peripheral face of the motor main body. The engaging plate part is provided with a side plate part extended from the end plate part along the outer peripheral face of tube-like body part, a hook part which is bent from a tip end part of the side plate part to an inner side and is engaged with an opening part which is formed in the tube-like body part, and a pawl part which is bent from a tip end part of the hook part and is engaged with an inner peripheral face of the tube-like body part. |
| US08686607B2 |
Electrical motor having radially offset cooling stream and cooling method
The rotor of an electrical motor should be designed simply and able to be efficiently cooled. To this end, the invention relates to an electrical motor having a rotor that has at least one radial cooling slot (16) and axially running cooling channels. The first cooling channels (18) run having their central axis at a different radial height opposite the axis of the rotor (11) than the second cooling channels (19). A spacer (29) is arranged in the at least one radial cooling slot (16) by means of which a first cooling stream (28) can be conducted from one of the first cooling channels (18) into one of the second cooling channels (19). A second partial package (T2) in the flow direction can also be supplied with cool air in this way if it flows through the first partial package (T1) in a cool region, such as near the shaft. |
| US08686603B2 |
Linear and rotary actuator
Provided is a linear and rotary actuator capable of bearing moment and load from a movable body and downsizing its radial dimension. A spline shaft is held in housings to be movable linearly in the axial direction and rotatable about the axis. The spline shaft is connected to a mover shaft of a linear motor. The spline shaft is surrounded with a hollow rotor of a rotary motor. The rotor is connected to a spline nut which transmits rotation of the rotor to the spline shaft by rotating together with the rotor and allows linear movement of the spline shaft. The rotor of the rotary motor is rotated by a stator of the rotary motor. The spline nut, the stator of the rotary motor and a stator of the linear motor are arranged in this order from an end of the spline shaft and mover shaft along the axial direction. |
| US08686597B2 |
Device for voltage multi-injection on multiple conductors
A device is configured to inject signals onto a medium made up of conductors and a reference plane. Transformers inject the signals onto the conductors by orthogonal modes. Differential mode chokes each include one input and two outputs. The input is connected to one end of a secondary winding of one of the transformers, or one of the outputs of another one of the chokes. The two outputs are connected to either the inputs of two others of the chokes, the input of another one of the chokes and a conditioner of one of the conductors, or conditioners of two of the conductors. The number of chokes depends on a number of non-differential modes used. The injections that use the chokes are injections selected from between pseudo-differential injections, injection in common mode, or a combination of pseudo-differential injections and injection in common mode. |
| US08686589B2 |
Device for controlling maintenance actuators for the cowlings of a turbojet engine nacelle
The invention relates to a device (9) for controlling the maintenance actuators (7a, 7b) of the cowlings of a turbojet engine nacelle of an aircraft, that comprises a first stage (12) to be connected to an electric power network (10) of the aircraft, at least one second power stage (13a, 13b) including converters of a first DC voltage from the first stage (12) into a second DC voltage for powering at least one maintenance actuator (7a, 7b) connected downstream from the device (9), a control means (14) for the first and second stages (12, 13a, 13b), and a means (15) for establishing a communication between the control means (14) and at least one control housing (16a, 16b) so that a user can control the operation of the actuators, the control means being arranged so as to carry out switching operations between a first operation mode in which the second stage(s) (13a, 13b) are powered, and a second standby mode in which the second stage(s) (13a, 13b) are not powered by the first stage (12). |
| US08686587B2 |
Power generator for booster amplifier systems
A system to harvest energy from fluid flow includes: an outer body including a flowway; an inner sleeve rotatably coupled to the outer body; and a magnetostrictive material disposed proximate to the inner sleeve to be strained due to a rotation of the inner sleeve in response to a fluid flow in the flowway. |
| US08686586B1 |
Lighting micro hydraulic power generator
A lighting micro hydraulic power generator includes a leaving water shell, a coil module, a lighting module, a fan, and an entering water cover. The leaving water shell has a container, a plurality of leaving water holes, and a screw thread. The coil module is set within the container of the leaving water shell, which is able to receiving external force for power generation and outputting power. The lighting module is set on the bottom of the leaving water shell, wherein the lighting module is electrically connected to the coil module, and is powered by the coil module to emit light. The fan is connected to the coil module, when the fan is driven by the external force to rotate, it is able to drive the coil module to generate and output power. |
| US08686583B2 |
Ocean wave-powered electric generator
Provided is a power generating device that includes a weight suspended from a buoy via a zip-line and at least two gears disposed on said zip-line which are coupled to a drive shafts, which in turn are coupled to an electric generator. The device converts the mechanical power of oscillating ocean waves into electricity. |
| US08686580B2 |
Power control methods
In an oscillating water column (OWC) assembly power may be generated based on a power reference that is derived from an estimate of the available mechanical power in the air turbine 2 or a measured pressure drop across the turbine. The power reference is used to derive a power control torque reference within a power controller 14. A speed controller 16 uses a comparison of a measured speed of the generator 8 and a maximum speed limit to derive a speed control torque reference. A selector function 22 selects whichever of the power control and speed control torque references is the maximum at any time instant. The selected torque reference is input to an anti stall torque function 24 where it is selectively modified by applying a speed dependent gain that decreases with decreasing turbine speed, preferably so that the main torque reference is zero for a minimum speed limit. |
| US08686579B2 |
Dual-range wireless controller
Embodiments of the invention provide a unique interactive game that includes multiple dynamic layers in which a participant may complete a variety of challenges and/or tasks. For example, the participant may obtain a toy “wand” from a retail phase that is usable in an interactive entertainment phase. The interactive entertainment phase may include multiple interrelated layers such that progress in one or more layers may affect the participant's experience in one or more other layers. The participant may also receive training on how to use the wand and/or complete one or more special effects, adventures and/or quests. During or following the interactive entertainment phase, the participant may use accumulated points and/or powers to redeem prizes and/or compete against other participants, such as in a duel. |
| US08686575B2 |
Energy collection
An energy collection system may collect and use the energy generated by an electric field. Collection fibers are suspended from a support wire system supported by poles. The support wire system is electrically connected to a load by a connecting wire. The collection fibers may be made of any conducting material, but carbon and graphite are preferred. Diodes may be used to restrict the backflow or loss of energy. |
| US08686571B2 |
Bonding layer structure and method for wafer to wafer bonding
A structure comprises a first semiconductor substrate, a first bonding layer deposited on a bonding side the first semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor substrate stacked on top of the first semiconductor substrate and a second bonding layer deposited on a bonding side of the second semiconductor substrate, wherein the first bonding layer is of a horizontal length greater than a horizontal length of the second semiconductor substrate, and wherein there is a gap between an edge of the second bonding layer and a corresponding edge of the second semiconductor substrate. |
| US08686570B2 |
Multi-dimensional integrated circuit structures and methods of forming the same
A structure comprises a first die, a second die, an interposer, a third die, and a fourth die. The first die and the second die each have a first surface and a second surface. First conductive connectors are coupled to the first surfaces of the first and second dies, and second conductive connectors are coupled to the second surfaces of the first and second dies. The interposer is over the first and second dies. A first surface of the interposer is coupled to the first conductive connectors, and a second surface of the interposer is coupled to third conductive connectors. The third and fourth dies are over the interposer and are coupled to the third conductive connectors. The first die is communicatively coupled to the second die through the interposer, and/or the third die is communicatively coupled to the fourth die through the interposer. |
| US08686567B2 |
Semiconductor device having plural wiring layers
A semiconductor device includes a lower wiring layer, having signal lines and power supply lines extending in a Y-direction; an upper wiring layer having signal lines and power supply lines extending in an X-direction; via conductors provided in first overlap regions where corresponding signal lines overlap each other; and via conductors provided in second overlap regions where corresponding power supply lines overlap each other. The width in the X-direction of the first regions is wider than the widths in the X-direction of the second regions. Therefore, in the first regions, a plurality of via conductors can be provided. Moreover, the power supply lines are divided in the Y-direction to avoid interference with the first regions. On a plurality of lower-layer lines, two vias are placed at a minimum pitch containing one via. |
| US08686566B2 |
In situ-built pin-grid arrays for coreless substrates, and methods of making same
A coreless pin-grid array (PGA) substrate includes PGA pins that are integral to the PGA substrate without the use of solder. A process of making the coreless PGA substrate integrates the PGA pins by forming a build-up layer upon the PGA pins such that vias make direct contact to pin heads of the PGA pins. |
| US08686563B2 |
Methods of forming fine patterns in the fabrication of semiconductor devices
In a method of forming a semiconductor device, a feature layer is provided on a substrate and a mask layer is provided on the feature layer. A portion of the mask layer is removed in a first region of the semiconductor device where fine features of the feature layer are to be located, the mask layer remaining in a second region of the semiconductor device where broad features of the feature layer are to be located. A mold mask pattern is provided on the feature layer in the first region and on the mask layer in the second region. A spacer layer is provided on the mold mask pattern in the first region and in the second region. An etching process is performed to etch the spacer layer so that spacers remain at sidewalls of pattern features of the mold mask pattern, and to etch the mask layer in the second region to provide mask layer patterns in the second region. The feature layer is etched using the mask layer patterns as an etch mask in the second region and using the spacers as an etch mask in the first region to provide a feature layer pattern having fine features in the first region and broad features in the second region. |
| US08686562B2 |
Refractory metal nitride capped electrical contact and method for frabricating same
According to one disclosed embodiment, an electrical contact for use on a semiconductor device comprises an electrode stack including a plurality of metal layers and a capping layer formed over the plurality of metal layers. The capping layer comprises a refractory metal nitride. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an electrical contact for use on a semiconductor device comprises forming an electrode stack including a plurality of metal layers over the semiconductor device, and depositing a refractory metal nitride capping layer of the electrode stack over the plurality of metal layers. The method may further comprise annealing the electrode stack at a temperature of less than approximately 875° C. In some embodiments, the method may additionally include forming one of a Schottky metal layer and a gate insulator layer between the electrode stack and the semiconductor device. |
| US08686559B2 |
Semiconductor chip stacking for redundancy and yield improvement
A stacked semiconductor chip comprising multiple unit chips contains multiple instances of a first chip component that have a low yield and are distributed among the multiple unit chips. An instance of the first chip component within a first unit chip is logically paired with at least another instance of the first chip component within at least another unit chip so that the combination of the multiple instances of the first chip component across the multiple unit chips constitute a functional block providing the functionality of a fully functional instance of the first chip component. The stacked semiconductor chip may include multiple instances of a second chip component having a high yield and distributed across the multiple unit chips. Multiple low yield components constitute a functional block providing an enhanced overall yield, while high yield components are utilized to their full potential functionality. |
| US08686557B2 |
Illumination device comprising a light-emitting diode
An illumination device (1) having comprising at least one support element (4) and at least one light-emitting diode (5) arranged on the support element (4), characterized in that wherein at least one of the plurality of components (2, 3, 4, 7, 10) of the illumination device (1) intended for heat dissipation from the light-emitting diode (5), in particular the support element (4), is provided at least in part with an electrically insulating layer (6, 11) having a high thermal conductivity, formed at least in part from a carbon compound, in particular from amorphous carbon, in particular tetrahedral amorphous carbon. |
| US08686556B2 |
Wafer level applied thermal heat sink
A process for forming a heat sink on a semiconductor package at the wafer level stage of manufacture is disclosed. A semiconductor component wafer, prior to separation into separate component packages, is covered on one side with a resin metal foil layer. The resin foil layer is patterned by laser ablation to define the heat sink locations, and then a thermal paste is applied over the patterned layer. The thermal conductive paste is hardened to form the heat sinks. The wafer can then be separated into packages. |
| US08686555B2 |
Integrated heater on MEMS cap for wafer scale packaged MEMS sensors
A system and method for controlling temperature of a MEMS sensor are disclosed. In a first aspect, the system comprises a MEMS cap encapsulating the MEMS sensor and a CMOS die vertically arranged to the MEMS cap. The system includes a heater integrated into the MEMS cap. The integrated heater is activated to control the temperature of the MEMS sensor. In a second aspect, the method comprises encapsulating the MEMS sensor with a MEMS cap and coupling a CMOS die to the MEMS cap. The method includes integrating a heater into the MEMS cap. The integrated heater is activated to control the temperature of the MEMS sensor. |
| US08686554B2 |
Vertically mountable semiconductor device package
A semiconductor package that includes a die with electrodes on opposite surfaces thereof and respective conductive clip electrically and mechanically coupled to the electrode and configured for vertical mounting of the package. |
| US08686547B1 |
Stack die structure for stress reduction and facilitation of electromagnetic shielding
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a packaged semiconductor device that reduces stress on a semiconductor device caused by thermal expansion of the insulating material used in the packaged semiconductor device. In one embodiment, an inactive semiconductor device is coupled to the top of active semiconductor device. Both the inactive and active devices are encapsulated by the insulating material. The configuration of the inactive device is selected based on its ability to absorb the expansion of the insulating material at operating temperature. |
| US08686545B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes: a plate (13) having a through hole (15); a metal column (16) fixed to the through hole with an insulating member (17) interposed therebetween, and having a projection projecting from the upper surface of the plate; a semiconductor element (12) fixed to the projection; a lead frame (11) electrically connected to the semiconductor element; and a package (14) covering the semiconductor element, and also covering at least part of each of the plate, the metal column, and the lead frame. The lower surface (13b) of the plate is exposed from the package. |
| US08686544B2 |
Semiconductor device
It is possible to realize the following package structure. That is, a structure for applying a stress to a channel region is provided for a semiconductor chip itself. In a package manufacturing process, a low thermal expansion coefficient film is formed on a circuit face of an Si chip. Thus, distribution and magnitude of a desired stress can be secured for a channel region of a MOSFET in a mounted chip even after performance of the package manufacturing process. As a result, a mobility is increased and current driving power is enhanced. |
| US08686540B2 |
Semiconductor device having high frequency wiring and dummy metal layer at multilayer wiring structure
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a wiring layer provided over the semiconductor substrate, a high frequency wiring provided in the wiring layer, and plural dummy metals provided in the wiring layer apart from the high frequency wiring. In a plan view, the wiring layer includes a high frequency wiring vicinity region and an external region surrounding the high frequency wiring vicinity region. The high frequency wiring vicinity region includes a first region enclosed by an outer edge of the high frequency wiring, and a second region surrounding the first region. The plural dummy metals are disposed dispersedly in the high frequency wiring vicinity region and in the external region respectively. An average interval between the dummy metals in the high frequency wiring vicinity region is wider than that in the external region. |
| US08686538B2 |
Semiconductor device with a fuse formed by a damascene technique and a method of manufacturing the same
In order to improve the reliability of a semiconductor device having a fuse formed by a Damascene technique, a barrier insulating film and an inter-layer insulating film are deposited over a fourth-layer wiring and a fuse. The barrier insulating film is an insulating film for preventing the diffusion of Cu and composed of a SiCN film deposited by plasma CVD like the underlying barrier insulating film. The thickness of the barrier insulating film covering the fuse is larger than the thickness of the underlying barrier insulating film so as to improve the moisture resistance of the fuse. |
| US08686536B2 |
Electrical fuse structure and method of formation
An embodiment is a fuse structure. In accordance with an embodiment, a fuse structure comprises an anode, a cathode, a fuse link interposed between the anode and the cathode, and cathode connectors coupled to the cathode. The cathode connectors are each equivalent to or larger than about two times a minimum feature size of a contact that couples to an active device. |
| US08686530B2 |
Electronic component and a method of manufacturing an electronic component
An electronic component, notably one including, for example, a TFT, a storage capacitor, or a crossing between electrically conductive layers of a stack device is disclosed. The electronic component comprises a substrate whereon a first electrically conductive layer forming electrode is provided. A second electrode formed by a second electrically conductive layer is separated from the first electrode by at least a dielectric layer, comprising an interlayer of an electrically insulating material, preferably having high resistance against electrical breakdown and a further layer of a photo-patternable electrically insulating material. |
| US08686527B2 |
Porous Si as CMOS image sensor ARC layer
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes metallization layers supported by a substrate, a diode and a partially doped silicon layer disposed over the metallization layers, a buffer layer disposed over the diode and the partially doped silicon layer; and an anti-reflective coating disposed over the buffer layer, the anti-reflective coating formed from a porous silicon. |
| US08686525B2 |
Magnetic sensor and magnetic memory
The invention relates to a magnetic sensor and a magnetic memory which sense magnetic information held by a ferromagnetic body without a current flowing through the ferromagnetic body. The magnetic sensor and magnetic memory use a magnetoresistive effect generated in a current that flows through a metal layer along an interface, on at least the interface side, with a ferromagnetic dielectric layer and said metal layer being joined through said interface. |
| US08686521B2 |
Magnetoresistive element and magnetic memory
A magnetoresistive element includes a stabilization layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a spin-polarization layer provided between the stabilization layer and the nonmagnetic layer, the spin-polarization layer having magnetic anisotropy in a perpendicular direction, and a magnetic layer provided on a side of the nonmagnetic layer opposite to a side on which the spin-polarization layer is provided. The stabilization layer has a lattice constant smaller than that of the spin-polarization layer in an in-plane direction. The spin-polarization layer contains at least one element selected from a group consisting of cobalt (Co) and iron (Fe), has a body-centered tetragonal (BCT) structure, and has a lattice constant ratio c/a of 1.10 (inclusive) to 1.35 (inclusive) when a perpendicular direction is a c-axis and an in-plane direction is an a-axis. |
| US08686520B2 |
Spin-torque magnetoresistive structures
Magnetoresistive structures, devices, memories, and methods for forming the same are presented. For example, a magnetoresistive structure includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic spacer layer proximate to the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer proximate to the first nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a first antiferromagnetic layer proximate to the second ferromagnetic layer. For example, the first ferromagnetic layer may comprise a first pinned ferromagnetic layer, the second ferromagnetic layer may comprise a free ferromagnetic layer, and the first antiferromagnetic layer may comprise a free antiferromagnetic layer. |
| US08686519B2 |
MEMS accelerometer using capacitive sensing and production method thereof
A MEMS accelerometer uses capacitive sensing between two electrode layers. One of the electrode layers has at least four independent electrodes arranged as two pairs of electrodes, with one pair aligned orthogonally to the other such that tilting of the membrane can be detected as well as normal-direction movement of the membrane. In this way, a three axis accelerometer can be formed from a single suspended mass, and by sensing using a set of capacitor electrodes which are all in the same plane. This means the fabrication is simple and is compatible with other MEMS manufacturing processes, such as MEMS microphones. |
| US08686515B2 |
Double-groove bidirectional vertical component
A mesa-type bidirectional vertical power component, including a substrate of a first conductivity type; a layer of the second conductivity type on each side of the substrate; first regions of the first conductivity type in each of the layers of the second conductivity type; and, at the periphery of each of its surfaces, two successive grooves, the internal groove crossing the layers of the second conductivity type, second doped regions of the first conductivity type being formed under the surface of the external grooves and having the same doping profile as the first regions. |
| US08686514B2 |
Multiple threshold voltages in field effect transistor devices
A field effect transistor device includes a first conductive channel disposed on a substrate, a second conductive channel disposed on the substrate, a first gate stack formed on the first conductive channel, the first gate stack including a metallic layer having a first oxygen content, a second gate stack a formed on the second conductive channel, the second gate stack including a metallic layer having a second oxygen, an ion doped source region connected to the first conductive channel and the second conductive channel, and an ion doped drain region connected to the first conductive channel and the second conductive channel. |
| US08686503B2 |
Lateral high-voltage transistor and associated method for manufacturing
The present disclosure discloses a lateral high-voltage transistor and associated method for making the same. The lateral high-voltage transistor comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a source region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type in the semiconductor layer; a drain region of the second conductivity type in the semiconductor layer separated from the source region; a first isolation layer atop the semiconductor layer between the source region and the drain region; a first well region of the second conductivity type surrounding the drain region, extending towards the source region and separated from the source region; a second well region of the first conductivity type surrounding the source region; a gate positioned atop the first isolation layer above the second well region and an adjacent portion of the first well region; and a first buried layer of the first conductivity type under the first well region adjacent to the source region side of the lateral high-voltage transistor. A JFET is formed using the gate as a JFET top gate and the first buried layer as a JFET bottom gate. |
| US08686502B2 |
Schottky diode integrated into LDMOS
In an LDMOS device leakage and forward conduction parameters are adjusted by integrating an Schottky diode into the LDMOS by substituting one or more n+ source regions with Schottky diodes. |
| US08686496B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first gate groove having first and second side walls facing to each other. A first gate insulating film covers the first and second side walls. A first gate electrode is disposed on the first gate insulating film and in a lower portion of the first gate groove. A first burying insulating film buries the first gate groove and covers the first gate electrode. A first diffusion region is adjacent to a first upper portion of the first gate insulating film. The first upper portion is positioned on an upper portion of the first side wall of the first gate groove. A second diffusion region is in contact with an upper portion of the second side wall of the first gate groove. |
| US08686495B1 |
Power semiconductor device
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a power semiconductor device comprise a plurality of gate electrodes, first to third electrodes, and first to fifth semiconductor layers The second semiconductor layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer. A plurality of the third semiconductor layers are formed in the second semiconductor layer and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction. The fourth semiconductor layer is formed on the second semiconductor layer. The fifth semiconductor layer is formed on the fourth semiconductor layer. The gate electrodes are formed above the second semiconductor layer and each gate electrode is arranged between the adjacent third semiconductor layers. The first electrodes are formed below the gate electrodes. One of the first electrodes is connected to the gate electrode. One of the first electrodes is connected to the third electrode. |
| US08686492B2 |
Non-volatile FINFET memory device and manufacturing method thereof
Methods for fabricating an electronic device and electronic devices therefrom are provided. A method includes forming one or more masking layers on a semiconducting surface of a substrate and forming a plurality of dielectric isolation features and a plurality of fin-type projections using the masking layer. The method also includes processing the masking layers and the plurality of fin-type projections to provide an inverted T-shaped cross-section for the plurality of fin-type projections that includes a distal extension portion and a proximal base portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of bottom gate layers on the distal extension portion and forming a plurality of control gate layers on the plurality of dielectric isolation features and the plurality of bottom gate layers. |
| US08686488B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a floating gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film, made of polysilicon containing a p-type impurity as a group XIII element, and having a lower film and an upper film stacked on the lower film, an inter-electrode insulating film formed on the floating gate electrode, and a control gate electrode formed on the inter-electrode insulating film. One of a concentration and an activation concentration of the p-type impurity in the upper film is higher than one of a concentration and an activation concentration of the p-type impurity in the lower film. |
| US08686487B2 |
Semiconductor devices and electronic systems comprising floating gate transistors
Semiconductor devices include one or more transistors having a floating gate and a control gate. In at least one embodiment, the floating gate comprises an intermediate portion extending between two end portions. The intermediate portion has an average cross-sectional area less than one or both of the end portions. In some embodiments, the intermediate portion may comprise a single nanowire. In additional embodiments, semiconductor devices have one or more transistors having a control gate and a floating gate in which a surface of the control gate opposes a lateral side surface of a floating gate that defines a recess in the floating gate. Electronic systems include such semiconductor devices. Methods of forming semiconductor devices include, for example, forming a floating gate having an intermediate portion extending between two end portions, and configuring the intermediate portion to have an average cross-sectional area less than one or both of the end portions. |
| US08686485B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device may include active patterns of pillar-shapes disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from each other in one direction; a gate electrode extending in the one direction and overlapped with sidewalls of the active patterns; a gate insulating layer disposed between the gate electrode and the active patterns; bit lines connected to bottom surfaces of respective active patterns; and/or capacitors connected to top surfaces of the respective active patterns. Each of the active patterns may have no p-type/n-type (PN) junctions. A semiconductor device may include a substrate; active patterns on the substrate that are spaced apart from each other; a gate electrode configured to overlap sidewalls of the active patterns; and/or gate insulating layers between the gate electrode and respective active patterns. The active patterns may be doped with dopants of a same conductivity type. |
| US08686483B2 |
Charge transfer photosite
A photosite may include, in a semi-conductor substrate, a photodiode pinched in the direction of the depth of the substrate including a charge storage zone, and a charge transfer transistor to transfer the stored charge. The charge storage zone may include a pinching in a first direction passing through the charge transfer transistor defining a constriction zone adjacent to the charge transfer transistor. |
| US08686479B2 |
Stacked pixel for high resolution CMOS image sensor
Provided is a solid-state CMOS image sensor, specifically a CMOS image sensor pixel that has stacked photo-sites, high sensitivity, and low dark current. In an image sensor including an array of pixels, each pixel includes: a standard photo-sensing and charge storage region formed in a first region under a surface portion of a substrate and collecting photo-generated carriers; a second charge storage region formed adjacent to the surface portion of the substrate and separated from the standard photo-sensing and charge storage region; and a potential barrier formed between the first region and a second region underneath the first region and diverting the photo-generated carriers from the second region to the second charge storage region. |
| US08686477B2 |
Ground contact structure for a low dark current CMOS pixel cell
Pixel array structures to provide a ground contact for a CMOS pixel cell. In an embodiment, an active area of a pixel cell includes a photodiode disposed in a first portion of an active area, where a second portion of the active area extends from a side of the first portion. The second portion includes a doped region to provide a ground contact for the active area. In another embodiment, the pixel cell includes a transistor to transfer the charge from the photodiode, where a gate of the transistor is adjacent to the second portion and overlaps the side of the first portion. |
| US08686473B1 |
Apparatus and method for reducing the interface resistance in GaN heterojunction FETs
The interface resistance between the source/drain and gate of an HFET may be significantly reduced by engineering the bandgap of the 2DEG outside a gate region such that the charge density is substantially increased. The resistance may be further reduced by using an n+GaN Cap layer over the channel layer and barrier layer such that a horizontal surface of the barrier layer beyond the gate region is covered by the n+GaN Cap layer. This technique is applicable to depletion and enhancement mode HFETs. |
| US08686470B2 |
ESD protection circuit
An integrated circuit device provides electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. In connection with various example embodiments, an ESD protection circuit includes a diode-type circuit having a p-n junction that exhibits a low breakdown voltage. Connected in series with the diode between an internal node susceptible to an ESD pulse and ground, are regions of opposite polarity having junctions therebetween for mitigating the passage of leakage current via voltage sharing with the diode's junction. Upon reaching the breakdown voltage, the diode shunts current to ground via another substrate region, bypassing one or more junctions of the regions of opposite polarity and facilitating a low clamping voltage. |
| US08686469B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a diode active region and an edge termination region adjacent to each other, a first region of a first conductivity type in the diode active region, a second region of a second conductivity type, a third region of the first conductivity type in the edge termination region, and a fourth region of the second conductivity type. The first region and the third region share a drift region of the first conductivity type. The first region and the third region share a fifth region of the first conductivity type. The drift region in the third region is greater in number of crystal defects per unit volume than the drift region in the first region in order that the drift region in the third region is shorter in carrier lifetime than the drift region in the first region. |
| US08686468B2 |
Semiconductor power device having wide termination trench and self-aligned source regions for mask saving
A trench semiconductor power device with a termination area structure is disclosed. The termination area structure comprises a wide trench and a trenched field plate formed not only along trench sidewall but also on trench bottom of the wide trench by doing poly-silicon CMP so that the body ion implantation is blocked by the trenched field plate on the trench bottom to prevent the termination area underneath the wide trench from being implanted. Moreover, a contact mask is used to define both trenched contacts and source regions of the device for saving a source mask. |
| US08686465B2 |
Glass, glass covering material for light-emitting device, and light-emitting device
Glass is provided which is capable of covering at a covering treatment temperature of at most 400° C. and which has a low thermal expansion coefficient and excellent weather resistance. Glass comprising, as represented by mol % based on oxides, from 29% to 33% of P2O5, from 43% to 58% of SnO, from 11% to 25% of ZnO, from 0.1% to 2% of Ga2O3, from 0.5% to 5% of CaO, and from 0% to 1% of SrO, provided that the sum X of ZnO, Ga2O3 and CaO is within a range of from 13% to 27%, as represented by mol % based on oxides. |
| US08686460B2 |
Ultra-thin ohmic contacts for p-type nitride light emitting devices
A flip-chip semiconductor based Light Emitting Device (LED) can include an n-type semiconductor substrate and an n-type GaN epi-layer on the substrate. A p-type GaN epi-layer can be on the n-type GaN epi-layer and a metal ohmic contact p-electrode can be on the p-type GaN epi-layer, where the metal ohmic contact p-electrode can have an average thickness less than about 25 Å. A reflector can be on the metal ohmic contact p-electrode and a metal stack can be on the reflector. An n-electrode can be on the substrate opposite the n-type GaN epi-layer and a bonding pad can be on the n-electrode. |
| US08686456B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device package, and light unit
Provided are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a light unit. The light emitting device includes a support substrate, a light emitting structure layer disposed on the support substrate, the light emitting structure layer including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, an electrode electrically connected to the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a volume layer disposed on the light emitting structure layer, the volume layer having a thickness greater than a thickness of the electrode. |
| US08686455B2 |
Composite substrate for formation of light-emitting device, light-emitting diode device and manufacturing method thereof
A composite substrate for the formation of a light-emitting device, ensuring that a high-quality nitride-based light-emitting diode can be easily formed on its top surface and the obtained substrate-attached light-emitting diode functions as a light-emitting device capable of emitting light for an arbitrary color such as white, is provided. A composite substrate for the formation of a light-emitting device, comprising a light-converting material substrate for radiating at least a part of incident light as light different in the wavelength through the surface opposite the incident surface, and at least two or more Al-containing nitride layers formed on the light-converting material substrate, wherein the light-converting material substrate has a texture comprising two or more oxide phases continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, including an Al2O3 phase and at least one fluorescence-emitting oxide phase, and the nitride layer has a first layer of an Al-containing nitride layer formed on the light-converting material substrate and a second layer of AlN having a dislocation density of 1×1012/cm2 or less and preferably having a surface roughness (RMS) of 10 nm or less. |
| US08686452B2 |
Optoelectronic apparatus
An optoelectronic apparatus includes an optical device with an optical structure including a plurality of optical elements, and a radiation-emitting or radiation-receiving semiconductor chip with a contact structure which includes a plurality of contact elements that make electrical contact with the semiconductor chip and are spaced apart vertically from the optical structure, wherein the contact elements are arranged in interspaces between the optical elements upon a projection of the contact structure into the plane of the optical structure. |
| US08686451B2 |
Optical-electronic component and method for production thereof
An optoelectronic component (100) comprises a first semiconductor layer stack (101), which has an active layer (110) designed for the emission of radiation and a main area (111). A separating layer (103) is arranged on said main area, said separating layer forming a semitransparent mirror. The optoelectronic component comprises a second semiconductor layer stack (102), which is arranged at the separating layer and which has a further active layer (120) designed for the emission of radiation. |
| US08686450B2 |
Method of manufacturing a vertically-structured GaN-based light emitting diode
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a vertically-structured GaN-based light emitting diode. The method of manufacturing a vertically-structured GaN-based light emitting diode includes forming a GaN layer on a substrate; patterning the compound layer in a predetermined shape; forming an n-type GaN layer on the patterned compound layer through the epitaxial lateral over-growth process and sequentially forming an active layer and a p-type GaN layer on the n-type GaN layer; forming a structure supporting layer on the p-type GaN layer; sequentially removing the substrate and the GaN layer formed on the substrate after forming the structure supporting layer; removing the patterned compound layer exposed after removing the GaN layer so as to form an n-type GaN layer patterned in a concave shape; and forming an n-type electrode on the n-type GaN layer patterned in a concave shape. |
| US08686448B2 |
Light emitting device, electronic apparatus, and manufacturing method of light emitting device
D={(2πm+φL+φU)/4π}λ is satisfied when an optical path length between a reflecting layer and pixel electrode and a counter electrode is D, a phase shift in reflection in the reflecting layer and pixel electrode is φL, a phase shift in reflection in the counter electrode is φU, a peak wavelength of a standing wave generated between the reflecting layer and pixel electrode, and the counter electrode is λ, and an integer of 2 or less is m. Here, among red, green, and blue pixel reflecting layer and pixel electrode, at least one reflecting layer and pixel electrode may be made of a different metal material from that of the other reflecting layer and pixel electrodes. |
| US08686447B2 |
Light emitting unit and display device
A light emitting unit including plural kinds of light emitting elements with different light emitting wavelengths, wherein, among the light emitting elements, at least one kind of light emitting element includes a semiconductor layer configured by laminating a first conductive layer, an active layer and a second conductive layer and having a side surface exposed by the first conductive layer, the active layer and the second conductive layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the first conductive layer; a second electrode electrically connected to the second conductive layer; a first insulation layer contacting at least an exposed surface of the active layer in the surface of the semiconductor layer; and a metal layer contacting at least a surface, which is opposite to the exposed surface of the active layer, in the surface of the first insulation layer, and electrically separated from the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08686446B2 |
Capacitor device and display apparatus having the same
A capacitor device prevents capacitor failure and pixel failure by preventing the capacitor from experiencing a short circuit caused by disconnection of a bridge formed between electrodes of the capacitor and a display apparatus having the capacitor device. A display device comprises a thin film transistor, a light emitting device, and the capacitor device described above. |
| US08686444B2 |
Organic light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting device including a substrate on which an organic light emitting unit is formed, wherein the organic light emitting unit sequentially includes a first electrode, an organic layer, and a second electrode; and a passivation layer covering the substrate and the second electrode, and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting device. |
| US08686442B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a nitride semiconductor light emitting device having an n-electrode that has an Au face excellent in ohmic contacts to an n-type nitride semiconductor and excellent in mounting properties, and a method of manufacturing the same. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device uses an n-electrode having a three-layer laminate structure that is composed of a first layer containing aluminum nitride and having a thickness not less than 1 nm or less than 5 nm, a second layer containing one or more metals selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Mo, and Pt, and a third layer made of Au, from the near side of the n-type nitride semiconductor in order of mention. The n-electrode thus formed is then annealed to obtain ohmic contacts to the n-type nitride semiconductor. |
| US08686440B2 |
Organic light emitting component and illumination means comprising a component of this type
In at least one embodiment of the organic light-emitting component (10), the latter comprises a unipolar charge carrier balder layer (3), a first layer (1) and a second layer (2) which are applied to opposing sides of the charge carrier barrier layer (3) and are in each case formed of at least one organic material, and two ambipolar injection layers (4), which are applied to the sides of the first (1) and second layers (2) remote from the charge carrier barrier layer (3). Such an organic, light-emitting component (10) may be operated efficiently with alternating current. |
| US08686439B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor element
This silicon carbide semiconductor element includes: a body region of a second conductivity type which is located on a drift layer of a first conductivity type; an impurity region of the first conductivity type which is located on the body region; a trench which runs through the body region and the impurity region to reach the drift layer; a gate insulating film which is arranged on surfaces of the trench; and a gate electrode which is arranged on the gate insulating film. The surfaces of the trench include a first side surface and a second side surface which is opposed to the first side surface. The concentration of a dopant of the second conductivity type is higher at least locally in a portion of the body region which is located beside the first side surface than in another portion of the body region which is located beside the second side surface. |
| US08686438B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
When viewed in a plan view, a termination region (TM) surrounds an element region (CL). A first side of a silicon carbide substrate (SB) is thermally etched to form a side wall (ST) and a bottom surface (BT) in the silicon carbide substrate (SB) at the termination region (TM). The side wall (ST) has a plane orientation of one of {0-33-8} and {0-11-4}. The bottom surface (BT) has a plane orientation of {000-1}. On the side wall (ST) and the bottom surface (BT), an insulating film (8T) is formed. A first electrode (12) is formed on the first side of the silicon carbide substrate (SB) at the element region (CL). A second electrode (14) is formed on a second side of the silicon carbide substrate (SB). |
| US08686436B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, a fourth semiconductor region, an insulating film, a control electrode, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first semiconductor region includes silicon carbide, and has a first portion. The second semiconductor region is provided on the first semiconductor region, and includes silicon carbide. The third semiconductor region and the fourth semiconductor region are provided on the second semiconductor region, and includes silicon carbide. The electrode is provided on the film. The second semiconductor region has a first region and a second region. The first region contacts with the third semiconductor region and the fourth semiconductor region. The second region contacts with the first portion. The impurity concentration of the first region is higher than an impurity concentration of the second region. |
| US08686435B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide layer is epitaxially formed on a main surface of a substrate. The silicon carbide layer is provided with a trench having a side wall inclined relative to the main surface. The side wall has an off angle of not less than 50° and not more than 65° relative to a {0001} plane. A gate insulating film is provided on the side wall of the silicon carbide layer. The silicon carbide layer includes: a body region having a first conductivity type and facing a gate electrode with the gate insulating film being interposed therebetween; and a pair of regions separated from each other by the body region and having a second conductivity type. The body region has an impurity density of 5×1016 cm−3 or greater. This allows for an increased degree of freedom in setting a threshold voltage while suppressing decrease of channel mobility. |
| US08686431B2 |
Gallium and nitrogen containing trilateral configuration for optical devices
Techniques for manufacturing optical devices, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) using a separation process of thick gallium and nitrogen containing substrate members, are described. |
| US08686429B2 |
LED structure with enhanced mirror reflectivity
Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to LED chips having improved overall emission by reducing the light-absorbing effects of barrier layers adjacent mirror contacts. In one embodiment, a LED chip comprises one or more LEDs, with each LED having an active region, a first contact under the active region having a highly reflective mirror, and a barrier layer adjacent the mirror. The barrier layer is smaller than the mirror such that it does not extend beyond the periphery of the mirror. In another possible embodiment, an insulator is further provided, with the insulator adjacent the barrier layer and adjacent portions of the mirror not contacted by the active region or by the barrier layer. In yet another embodiment, a second contact is provided on the active region. In a further embodiment, the barrier layer is smaller than the mirror such that the periphery of the mirror is at least 40% free of the barrier layer, and the second contact is below the first contact and accessible from the bottom of the chip. |
| US08686426B2 |
Thin film transistor having plural semiconductive oxides, thin film transistor array panel and display device including the same, and manufacturing method of thin film transistor
A plural semiconductive oxides TFT (sos-TFT) provides improved electrical functionality in terms of charge-carrier mobility and/or threshold voltage variability. The sos-TFT may be used to form a thin film transistor array panel for display devices. An example sos-TFT includes: an insulated gate electrode; a first semiconductive oxide layer having a composition including a first semiconductive oxide; and a second semiconductive oxide layer having a different composition that also includes a semiconductive oxide. The first and second semiconductive oxide layers have respective channel regions that are capacitively influenced by a control voltage applied to the gate electrode. In one embodiment, the second semiconductive oxide layer includes at least one additional element that is not included in the first semiconductive oxide layer where the additional element is one of gallium (Ga), silicon (Si), niobium (Nb), hafnium (Hf), and germanium (Ge). |
| US08686422B2 |
Active matrix substrate and active matrix display device
A stem wiring (13a) having a broad line width is formed above branch wirings (13b) having a narrow line width. In a region where the stem wiring (13a) is connected to the branch wiring (13b), the stem wiring (13a) overlaps with the branch wiring (13b) via a gate insulating film when seen in a plan view, a contact hole is provided in the gate insulating film so as to uncover the branch wiring (13b), and the stem wiring (13a) is electrically connected to the branch wiring (13b) via a connecting conductor formed in the contact hole. Consequently, a TFT array substrate can be achieved, in which a disconnection failure or an abnormal line width is reduced without enlarging the dimension of a driving circuit region. |
| US08686415B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to provide a semiconductor memory device capable of shortening writing operation by concurrently determining potentials of memory cells on one word line. A plurality of transistors having switching characteristics are connected to one potential control circuit, whereby writing potentials are determined concurrently. A potential continues to be changed (raised or decreased) stepwise, a desired potential is determined while changing the potential, and whether data resulted from reading with respect to written data is correct or not is continuously checked, so that high-precision writing operation and high-precision reading operation can be achieved. In addition, favorable switching characteristics and holding characteristics of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor are utilized. |
| US08686413B2 |
Semiconductor device having oxide semiconductor transistor
It is an object to provide a semiconductor device having a new productive semiconductor material and a new structure. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer over a substrate, a first insulating layer which covers the first conductive layer, an oxide semiconductor layer over the first insulating layer that overlaps with part of the first conductive layer and has a crystal region in a surface part, second and third conductive layers formed in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer which covers the oxide semiconductor layer and the second and third conductive layers, and a fourth conductive layer over the insulating layer that overlaps with part of the oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US08686412B2 |
Microelectronic device
A microelectronic device includes a thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor channel and an organic polymer passivation layer formed on the oxide semiconductor channel. |
| US08686410B2 |
Organic electroluminescence generating devices
An electroluminescence generating device comprising a channel of organic semiconductor material, said channel being able to carry both types of charge carriers, said charge carriers being electrons and holes; an electron electrode, said electron electrode being in contact with said channel and positioned on top of a first side of said channel layer or within said channel layer, said electron electrode being able to inject electrons in said channel layer; a hole electrode, said hole electrode being spaced apart from said electron electrode, said hole channel and positioned on top of within said channel layer, said hole electrode being able to inject holes into said channel; a control electrode positioned on said first side or on a second side of said channel; whereby light emission of said electroluminescence generating device can be acquired by applying an electrical potential difference between said electron electrode and said hole electrode. |
| US08686408B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device, imaging device and production methods thereof
A photoelectric conversion device is provided and includes: a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first and second electrodes, the photoelectric conversion layer containing a mixture of an organic photoelectric conversion dye, a fullerene or a fullerene derivative, and a fullerene polymer; various embodiments of the device, a photosensor, an imaging device, and production methods for these devices. |
| US08686405B2 |
Minute structure, micromachine, organic transistor, electric appliance, and manufacturing method thereof
A micromachine is generally formed using a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer. One of the objects of the present invention is to realize further reduction in cost by integrating a minute structure and a semiconductor element controlling the minute structure over one insulating surface in one step. A minute structure has a structure in which a first layer formed into a frame-shape are provided over an insulating surface, a space is formed inside the frame, and a second layer is formed to cross over the first layer. Such a minute structure and a thin film transistor can be integrated over one insulating surface in one step. |
| US08686404B2 |
Organic semiconductors capable of ambipolar transport
Electrodes in an organic thin film transistor based on single component organic semiconductors may be chemically modified to realize ambipolar transport. Electronic circuits may be assembled which include at least two such organic thin film transistors wherein at least one transistor is configured as a pmos transistor and at least on other transistor is configured as a nmos transistor. |
| US08686399B2 |
Growth substrate and light emitting device
Disclosed are a growth substrate and a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a silicon substrate, a first buffer layer disposed on the silicon substrate and having an exposing portions of the silicon substrate, a second buffer layer covering the first buffer layer and the exposed portions of the silicon substrate, wherein the second buffer layer is formed of a material causing a eutectic reaction with the silicon substrate, a third buffer layer disposed on the second buffer layer, and a light emitting structure disposed on the third buffer layer, and the second buffer layer includes voids. |
| US08686397B2 |
Low droop light emitting diode structure on gallium nitride semipolar substrates
A light emitting diode structure of (Al,Ga,In)N thin films grown on a gallium nitride (GaN) semipolar substrate by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) that exhibits reduced droop. The device structure includes a quantum well (QW) active region of two or more periods, n-type superlattice layers (n-SLs) located below the QW active region, and p-type superlattice layers (p-SLs) above the QW active region. The present invention also encompasses a method of fabricating such a device. |
| US08686388B2 |
Non-volatile resistive sense memory with improved switching
A resistive sense memory cell includes a layer of crystalline praseodymium calcium manganese oxide and a layer of amorphous praseodymium calcium manganese oxide disposed on the layer of crystalline praseodymium calcium manganese oxide forming a resistive sense memory stack. A first and second electrode are separated by the resistive sense memory stack. The resistive sense memory cell can further include an oxygen diffusion barrier layer separating the layer of crystalline praseodymium calcium manganese oxide from the layer of amorphous praseodymium calcium manganese oxide a layer. Methods include depositing an amorphous praseodymium calcium manganese oxide disposed on the layer of crystalline praseodymium calcium manganese oxide forming a resistive sense memory stack. |
| US08686387B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array layer having a memory cell. The memory cell has a current control device, a variable resistance device and a metal layer for silicide. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor memory device includes: forming the metal layer for silicide on a semiconductor layer for forming the current control device and a variable resistance device layer; selectively removing the variable resistance device layer and the metal layer through first etching; forming a first protective layer to cover at least a side surface of the metal layer exposed by the first etching; selectively removing a part of the semiconductor layer, through second etching; and forming a second protective layer to cover the variable resistance device layer, the metal layer for silicide, and the semiconductor layer. |
| US08686384B2 |
Memory device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a nanomaterial assembly layer, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The nanomaterial assembly layer is formed of an assembly of a plurality of micro conductors via gaps between the micro conductors. The first electrode layer is provided on the nanomaterial assembly layer. The second electrode layer is provided on the first electrode layer. |
| US08686380B2 |
Charged particle beam apparatus
The present invention provides a charged particle beam apparatus that keeps the degree of vacuum in the vicinity of the electron source to ultra-high vacuum such as 10−8 to 10−9 Pa even in the state where electron beams are emitted using a non-evaporable getter pump and is not affected by dropout foreign particles.The present invention includes a vacuum vessel in which a charged particle source (electron source, ion source, etc.) is disposed and a non-evaporable getter pump disposed at a position that does not directly face electron beams and includes a structure that makes the non-evaporable getter pump upward with respect to a horizontal direction to drop out foreign particles into a bottom in a groove, so that the foreign particles dropped out from the non-evaporable getter pump do not face an electron optical system. Or, the present invention includes a structure that is covered by a shield means, or a means that is disposed immediately on a surface of the non-evaporable getter pump but at a position where the electron beams are not seen and has a concave structure capable of trapping the dropout foreign particles on a lower portion of the non-evaporable getter pump. |
| US08686376B2 |
Microarray characterization system and method
A system for detecting a plurality of analytes in a sample includes an aperture array and a lens array for generating and focusing a plurality of excitation sub-beams on different sub-regions of a substrate. These sub-regions can be provided with different binding sites for binding different analytes in the sample. By detecting the different luminescent responses in a detector, the presence or amount of different analytes can be determined simultaneously. Alternatively or in addition, collection of the luminescence radiation can be performed using the lens array for directly collecting the luminescence response and for guiding the collected luminescence response to corresponding apertures. The excitation sub-beams may be focused at the side of the substrate opposite of the lens array, and an immersion fluid is provided between the lens array and the substrate to increase the collection efficiency of the luminescence radiation. |
| US08686374B2 |
Drawing apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides a drawing apparatus including a generation device configured to generate drawing data, a blanking device configured to blank a beam, and a blanking controller includes a first storage device, a second storage device, and a third storage device configured to respectively store the drawing data generated by the generation device, and being configured to control operations of the first storage device, the second storage device, and the third storage device so that an operation of storing the drawing data generated by the generation device in a selected one of the first storage device and the second storage device, and an operation of reading out the drawing data stored in the other of the first storage device and the second storage device, and storing the readout drawing data in the third storage device are executed in parallel. |
| US08686373B2 |
Interactive display device
An interactive display device is disclosed. The interactive display device comprises: a housing, a user interface surface which is coupled with the housing, a display panel which is disposed under the user interface surface, an area light detector which is disposed under the display panel and configured to detect invisible light reflected by an object which is on or adjacent to the user interface surface, a plane light guide plate which is disposed under the area light detector, and an invisible light source which is disposed at the side of the plane light guide plate. The interactive display device has small size and better appearance, and thus is easy to be transported and more competitive. |
| US08686367B2 |
Circuit configuration and method for time of flight sensor
An apparatus includes a photodiode, a first and second storage transistor, a first and second transfer transistor, and a first and second output transistor. The first transfer transistor selectively transfers a first portion of the image charge from the photodiode to the first storage transistor for storing over multiple accumulation periods. The first output transistor selectively transfers a first sum of the first portion of the image charge to a readout node. The second transfer transistor selectively transfers a second portion of the image charge from the photodiode to the second storage transistor for storing over the multiple accumulation periods. The second output transistor selectively transfers a second sum of the second portion of the image charge to the readout node. |
| US08686366B2 |
Stimulated emission and enhanced detection of chemicals and chemical compounds
A method and apparatus for remotely detecting, locating, and identifying chemicals and chemical compounds through optically opaque materials. Electromagnetic radiation in the Terahertz range emitted from an antenna array is modulated to excite target molecules. The apparatus then stops the excitation energy and the molecules emit an electromagnetic signature detectable by the device at standoff distances. |
| US08686365B2 |
Imaging apparatus and methods
Optical imaging structures and methods are disclosed. One structure may be implemented as an imaging pixel having multiple photodetectors. The photodetectors may detect different wavelengths of incident radiation, and may be operated simultaneously or at separate times. An imager may include an imaging array of pixels of the type described. Methods of operating such structures are also described. |
| US08686364B1 |
Method and system for determining energy content and detecting contaminants in a fluid stream
Methods and systems for real time, in situ monitoring of fluids, and particularly the determination of both the energy content and contaminants in a gas or oil transmission facility, are provided. The system may include two separate scanning sources to scan two different, but overlapping, NIR ranges, or may involve two separate scans from a single scanning spectroscopy source. The first scan ranges from approximately 1550 nm up through 1800 nm and a second scan concurrently scans at a high resolution across a band from approximately 1560-1610 nm, the wavelength of interest for hydrogen sulfide (though similar scans are contemplated in alternative wavelength ranges for alternative contaminants). The second scan may provide very narrow (0.005 nm) step resolution over just the wavelength of interest for the contaminant and may scan at a substantially higher power level. The spectroscopic optical data from the two scans, however obtained, must then be combined into an analytical processing module containing models that analyze the multi-scan data and yield both energy content and contaminant quantitative data. |
| US08686361B2 |
Radiation detection apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a radiation detection apparatus is provided. The method comprising: forming a set of columnar crystals capable of converting radiation into visible light on a base; forming a supporting layer that supports the set of columnar crystals; separating the set of columnar crystals supported by the supporting layer from the base; preparing a sensor panel having a photoelectric conversion unit; and adhering a surface of the set of columnar crystals, that surface having been in contact with the base, to the sensor panel using an adhesive material, such that the set of columnar crystals covers the photoelectric conversion unit. |
| US08686356B2 |
Fragmentation methods for mass spectrometry
Apparatus and methods are provided that enable the interaction of low energy electrons and positrons with sample ions to facilitate electron capture dissociation (EGO) and positron capture dissociation (PGO), respectively, within multipole ion guide structures. The apparatus and methods described herein allow EGO (and PCO) to be performed within multipole ion guides, either alone, or in combination with conventional ion fragmentation methods. |
| US08686353B2 |
Apparatus system and method for mass analysis of a sample
A mass spectrometer comprised of a mass analyzer, ion source and detector has the capability of analyzing samples in both positive and negative ionization modes. The mass spectrometer used in conjunction with a liquid chromatograph, fluid splitters and a plurality fluid pathways so that a large volume of analysis may be performed quickly and with high precision and accuracy. The apparatus is also capable of analyzing complex mixtures such as coeluting samples. |
| US08686351B2 |
Systems and methods for transfer of ions for analysis
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for transferring ions for analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample including an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure, an ion analysis device, and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, in which the gas flow generating device produces a laminar gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device. |
| US08686347B2 |
Device for use in normalizing readings on a testing machine
Example apparatus and methods for use in normalization of testing machines used to test samples in vessels are disclosed. An example apparatus includes verification source and a photon emitter positioned in the verification source. The example photon emitter includes a C14 source, a scintillator adjacent to the C14 source, and a filter adjacent to the scintillator. The example photon emitter is to emit photons through the filter for detection by a photon counter. |
| US08686346B2 |
Frequency selective imaging system
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a frequency selective imager. In particular, the frequency selective imager includes an array of pixels arranged in a focal plane array. Each pixel includes at least one nanoparticle-sized diameter thermoelectric junction that is formed between nanowires of different compositions. When a nanoparticle-sized diameter thermoelectric junction senses a photon, the nanoparticle-sized diameter thermoelectric junction emits an electrical pulse voltage that is proportional to an energy level of the sensed photon. In one or more embodiments, the frequency selective imager is a frequency selective optical imager that is used to sense photons having optical frequencies. In at least one embodiment, at least one of the nanowires in the frequency selective imager is manufactured from a compound material including Bismuth (Bi) and Tellurium (Te). |
| US08686344B2 |
Processing method and apparatus for energy saving of an active infrared induction instrument powered by a dry battery
An active infrared induction instrument powered by a dry battery capable of reducing power consumption through the adjustment of the emitter pulse width. The infrared emitted LED emits infrared signals, which, after being reflected by an object, are received by the infrared photodiode. The infrared signals received the infrared signals received by the infrared photodiode then enter an integrated circuit chip through a comparator. The pulse widths of the infrared emission pulse signals are dynamically adjusted after the width of the pulse series is received by the discrimination chip, thus reducing the emission power consumption to save energy. |
| US08686342B2 |
Double-sided image sensor formed on a single semiconductor wafer die
An example double-sided image sensor includes a semiconductor die, a photodetector, a charge-to-voltage converter, and support circuitry. The semiconductor die has a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side. The photodetector is disposed within the semiconductor die on the first side for accumulating an image charge in response to light incident on the first side. The charge-to-voltage converter is disposed within the semiconductor die on the first side. The transfer gate is also disposed on the first side of the semiconductor die between the photodetector and the charge-to-voltage converter to transfer the image charge from the photodetector to the charge-to-voltage converter. Support circuitry of the image sensor is disposed within the semiconductor die on the second side and is electrically coupled to the charge-to-voltage converter. |
| US08686340B2 |
Solid imaging device and portable information terminal device having plural pixels being shielded and not shielded from light
According to one embodiment, a solid imaging device includes an imaging substrate, a light-shielding member and a AD conversion circuits. The imaging substrate is two-dimensionally arranged with a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels have a top face formed with an optoelectronic conversion element for converting incident light into an electric charge and storing it and a back face opposite to the top faces. The imaging substrate is formed with a top face by the top face of the plurality of pixels and formed with a back face by the back face of the plurality of pixels. The light-shielding member is provided on the top face side of the imaging substrate. The AD conversion circuits is formed on the back face of the pixels shielded from the light. |
| US08686338B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling output of the solid-state imager in a barcode reader
A method and apparatus for imaging targets with an imaging reader. The method includes: (1) capturing return light from a target over a field of view of the solid-state imager and generating image data corresponding to the target; (2) transmitting the image data from the solid-state imager to the host when the gate circuit is set to the transmitting mode; and (3) preventing the image data from transmitting to the host when the gate circuit is set to the blocking mode. |
| US08686336B2 |
Measuring and compensating for light intensity in an optical scanner
Disclosed is a device for optical scanning, comprising: a plurality of photo sensors, where the photo sensors are arranged to detect light incident on the photo sensors, emitted from a light source and reflected from an object subject to optical scanning; wherein the amount of light received at least one of the photo sensors is to a larger extent light transmitted from the light source; and to a smaller extent light reflected from the object. |
| US08686335B2 |
System and method for adjusting the light output of an optoacoustic imaging system
A system and method for adjusting the light output of an optoacoustic imaging system. An optoacoustic imaging system includes a light source having a light output control, a probe for delivering light to a volume, the probe being associated with one or more sensors, a light path operatively connected to the first light source, the light path providing light from the first light source to the probe. To avoid unsafe fluence levels incident upon the volume of interest in a clinical setting, the light output control may be set to an initial, relatively low value. After the light source is pulsed, the light output may be measured at or near the probe at the distal end of the light path. The measured light output can used to determine whether, and how much, to change the setting of the light output control. |
| US08686333B2 |
System and method for local string management unit
Apparatuses and methods include a solar array having one or more strings of series-connected local management units (LMUs). Each LMU is parallel-connected to one of a plurality of solar modules. The strings are connected in parallel via a parallel bus. Local string management units (LSMUs) can increase or decrease an output voltage of the solar array by upconverting or downconverting string output voltages from each string. LSMUs can also operate in a bypass mode to increase overall power output. |
| US08686330B2 |
Shell arranged with extensible wings and guiding device
The invention relates to a shell (1) arranged with extensible wings (3) having improved guidance characteristics during the gliding and final phase of the shell (1). The invention is characterized in that the extensible wings (3), via threaded wing fixtures (8), are movably arranged on rotatable axial guide shafts (6) on the shell body (2) for separate or simultaneous displacement of the wings (3) in the longitudinal direction A of the shell (1), for guidance of the shell (1) in the vertical and lateral directions during the trajectory phase of the shell, and in that the wings (3) are also rotatably arranged on radial guide shafts for controlling the angle of incidence of the wings (3) during the final phase of the shell (1). |
| US08686329B2 |
Torsion spring wing deployment initiator
A compact, purely mechanical wing deployment assisting mechanism uses torsion springs and lever arms to apply a deploying force to a guidance wing during its initial deployment through a wing slot in a rocket or missile, thereby assisting the wing to burst through a cover seal protecting the wing slot. The wings are then fully deployed by centrifugal force. Various embodiments include two “extreme duty” springs and two lever arms per wing, working in parallel. Embodiments provide a total of at least 24 pounds of force per wing at the end of a spring travel of 0.30 inches. In some embodiments, the entire mechanism weighs less than 0.5 pounds and/or occupies less than 2.5 cubic inches per wing. In embodiments, an assembled group, including two springs and two lever arms, is located between each pair of wings, whereby each assembled group applies one lever arm to each adjoining wing. |
| US08686328B2 |
Resettable missile control fin lock assembly
A fin lock assembly 12 for locking and unlocking missile fins 20 includes a piston 34 movable along a piston axis 44 between a locked position for preventing a fin from rotating and an unlocked position for allowing the fin to rotate. The fin lock assembly includes a camshaft 46 rotatable between a locked position and a relatively-rotated unlocked position about a cam axis 50 that is transverse the piston axis. The camshaft has an eccentric portion 66 connected to the piston such that rotation of the camshaft between the locked position and the unlocked position moves the piston between its corresponding locked and unlocked positions. The fin lock assembly includes a torsion spring 72 connected to the camshaft to bias the camshaft toward its unlocked position. A latch mechanism 100 holds a plurality of camshafts in their locked positions and simultaneously releases the camshafts to release their fins. |
| US08686327B2 |
Missile nose fairing system
A missile nose fairing system includes sections attached at an aft end thereof to a missile body, a restraint for normally preventing aftward displacement of the plurality of sections, and a drive unit for releasing the restraint in response to a received signal. Each of the sections has an outer surface that converges to a common forward pointed tip for enclosing and protecting a guidance head when in an extended position and is retractable into a corresponding recessed region formed within a missile nose when the drive unit is activated releasing the restraint. |
| US08686324B2 |
Hermetic packages with laser scored vent systems
A hermetically sealed package, for example a freezable, microwavable package containing a food product, having a sealing film that includes a vent system that is scored by a laser into the package. The vent system includes at least one linear or non-linear vent pattern scored into a portion of the outer surface of the sealing film so as to form at least one weakened wall pattern. According to certain embodiments, the vent pattern may be scored by a laser to a depth that does not perforate the sealing film. The inner surface of the sealing film that is adjacent to the weakened wall pattern is directly exposed to pressure that is generated in the inner region of the package during heating. According to some embodiments, the vent pattern may have a vent pattern span that is approximately 1% to 50% of the size of the inner region span. |
| US08686320B2 |
Heat treatment apparatus emitting flash of light
Flash lamps connected to short-pulse circuits and flash lamps connected to long-pulse circuits are alternately arranged in a line. The duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the long-pulse circuits is longer than the duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the short-pulse circuits. A superimposing of a flash of light with a high peak intensity from the flash lamps that emit light for a short time and a flash of light with a gentle peak from the flash lamps that emit light for a long time can increase the temperature of even a deep portion of a substrate to an activation temperature or more without heating a shallow portion near the substrate surface more than necessary. This achieves the activation of deep junctions without causing substrate warpage or cracking. |
| US08686318B2 |
Wireless tracking and inventory monitoring for welding-type devices
A welding-type device has a wireless communication unit to transmit wireless signals comprising at least identification information or location information. The information may be transmitted either automatically or in response to request signals. Such a welding-type device may be configured to communicate with other welding-type devices, a monitoring device, or both. A wireless communication system has at least one welding-type device, at least one wireless communication assembly, and at least one monitoring device and is capable of assisting a user in locating particular welding-type devices, monitoring inventory, preventing theft of welding-type devices, and scheduling preventive maintenance. |
| US08686311B2 |
Breaking device with arc breaking shield
A breaking device with an arc breaking shield comprising at least one stationary contact collaborating with a movable contact supported by a contact-holder arm and an actuating device of the movable contact in a casing.A movable arc breaking shield is commanded in movement to occupy a rest position and a laminating position. The movable breaking shield is connected to the contact-holder arm by an actuating rod in such a way that movement of the contact-holder arm results in movement of the movable breaking shield, the actuating rod being respectively connected to the movable breaking shield and to the contact-holder arm by a second and third pivot-pin. |
| US08686309B2 |
Touch panel having conductive zone for avoiding false operation
A touch panel includes an insulating substrate, a transparent conductive layer, a number of electrodes, a number of conductive wires, and at least one conductive zone. The transparent conductive layer corresponding to a touch area of the touch panel is fixed on the insulating substrate. The electrodes are electrically connected to the transparent conductive layer. The conductive wires are electrically connected to a controller and are respectively electrically connected to the electrodes. The at least one conductive zone has two ends. One of the two ends of the at least one conductive zone is electrically connected to the controller. The at least one conductive zone and the conductive wires are disposed in a trace area of the touch panel at a distance. |
| US08686308B2 |
Conductive sheet and capacitive touch panel
First conductive patterns, which each contain two or more first large lattices electrically connected by a first connection in series in a first direction, are formed on a first transparent substrate, and second conductive patterns, which each contain two or more second large lattices electrically connected by a second connection in series in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, are formed on a second transparent substrate. As viewed from above, the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns are arranged adjacent to each other, and the first connection and the second connection are arranged facing each other. The first large lattices are electrically connected via three or more connection paths in the first connection, and the second large lattices are electrically connected via three or more connection paths in the second connection. |
| US08686306B2 |
Rotary knob assembly
A rotary knob assembly and methods for forming and controlling friction effecting features of the knob assembly are disclosed. The knob assembly includes a mounting structure and a knob. The knob is rotatably coupled to a bezel of the mounting structure. The knob includes a stabilizer, a guide member, and a retainer having a patterned surface. At least a portion of the stabilizer is disposed between the bezel and the retainer to maintain an axial position and a radial position of the knob. A detent formed on the guide member cooperates with a patterned surface of the retainer to provide a haptic feedback to a user. |
| US08686298B2 |
Wiring board and electronic component device
A wiring board includes a wiring forming region in which a plurality of wiring layers are stacked while sandwiching insulating layers, an outer periphery region which is arranged around the wiring forming region and in which a reinforcing pattern is formed in the same layer as each of the wiring layers. An area ratio of the reinforcing pattern to the outer periphery region and an area ratio of the wiring layer to the wiring forming region are substantially the same in each of the layers, and the reinforcing patterns exist without a gap in the outer periphery region when the wiring board is viewed in planar perspective. |
| US08686297B2 |
Laminated flex circuit layers for electronic device components
An electronic device may have a housing in which an antenna and a proximity sensor formed from flex circuit structures are mounted. The flex circuit structures may include first and second flex circuit layers. The first and second flex circuit layers may include metal antenna structures and metal proximity sensor electrode structures. Solder may be used to attach electrical components to the flex circuit layers and may be used to electrically connect metal structures on the first and second flex circuit layers to each other. The first and second flex circuit layers may be laminated together using a compressive fixture. The compressive fixture may have a first fixture with a convex surface and a second fixture with a concave surface so that the laminated flex circuit layers are provided with a bend. |
| US08686294B2 |
Electrical insulating cap formation
An electrical insulating cap formation is disclosed. The electrical insulating cap formation includes a strip of material and a plurality of electrical insulating caps carried thereon in a row, in which intervals are provided between each, or groups of two or more, of the electrical insulating caps. |
| US08686291B2 |
Insulating varnish and insulated wire formed by using the same
An insulating varnish usable for an insulating coat of an insulated wire on a conductor with a quadrangular cross section contains polyamide-imide resin varnish and organosilica sol mixed with the polyamide-imide resin varnish. The polyamide-imide resin varnish contains solvent and polyamide-imide resin. The organosilica sol contains dispersion medium and silica particles dispersed in the dispersion medium. Cyclic ketones having boiling point in a range of 130 to 180° C. make up 70 to 100 wt % or more of the dispersion medium. |
| US08686286B2 |
Electrical wire routing device
An electrical wire routing device for routing an electric wire between a floor in an automobile and a seat includes a case following parallel to a support rail to which a support body supporting the seat is slidably attached. The case includes a tubular movement section attaching the electric wire thereto, guiding the electric wire to the seat, to which a slider sliding in association with the movement of the seat is slidably attached, and a housing section accommodating the extra length of the electric wire. The movement section and the housing section are provided as separated parts and placed parallel to each other. The extra length of the electric wire extracted from one end portion of the movement section and drawn into the housing section is accommodated in the housing section with the electric wire bent in a U-shape. The electric wire is accommodated in the corrugated tube. |
| US08686285B2 |
Eutectic melts
The present invention refers to using the principal of a room temperature molten ionic liquid, to an electrolyte, to devices comprising the ionic liquid co-melting, and to the preparation of a room temperature ionic liquid via various physical and chemical methods. The room temperature molten ionic liquid comprises at least two component salts, at least one of which is not molten at room temperature, but, if combined with another salt, is in the molten state at room temperature. |
| US08686284B2 |
Photovoltaic device with increased light trapping
Methods and apparatus are provided for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells. A photovoltaic (PV) device may incorporate front side and/or back side light trapping techniques in an effort to absorb as many of the photons incident on the front side of the PV device as possible in the absorber layer. The light trapping techniques may include a front side antireflective coating, multiple window layers, roughening or texturing on the front and/or the back sides, a back side diffuser for scattering the light, and/or a back side reflector for redirecting the light into the interior of the PV device. With such light trapping techniques, more light may be absorbed by the absorber layer for a given amount of incident light, thereby increasing the efficiency of the PV device. |
| US08686283B2 |
Solar cell with oxide tunneling junctions
One embodiment of the present invention provides a tunneling junction based solar cell. The solar cell includes a base layer; a quantum-tunneling-barrier (QTB) layer situated adjacent to the base layer; an emitter; a surface field layer; a front-side electrode; and a back-side electrode. |
| US08686280B2 |
See-through type solar battery module
A see-through type solar battery module includes optically transparent first and second substrates and a plurality of annular clusters. Each cluster includes: a plurality of spherical solar cells; a conductive layer to which first electrodes of the plurality of solar cells are electrically connected in parallel; a conductive member to which second electrodes of the plurality of solar cells are electrically connected in parallel; a bypass diode connected to the conductive layer and the conductive member; and a conductive connection member that electrically connects the conductive layer to conductive member of the cluster that is adjacent in a predetermined direction. By providing the clusters in a snowflake configuration, or in a single rectilinear pattern, the scope is enlarged for selecting the ratio between sunlight transmission ratio and electrical generation capability, so that enhanced freedom of design for use as a window material is obtained. |
| US08686279B2 |
Concentrating solar energy collector
A concentrating solar energy collector comprises a linearly extending receiver comprising solar cells, a plurality of linearly extending reflective elements arranged in side-by-side rows, oriented parallel to a long axis of the receiver, and fixed in position with respect to each other and with respect to the receiver to form a linearly extending reflector, and a linearly extending support structure supporting the receiver and the reflector and pivotally mounted to accommodate rotation of the support structure, the reflector, and the receiver about a rotation axis parallel to the long axis of the receiver. |
| US08686276B1 |
System and method for capture and rendering of performance on synthetic musical instrument
Techniques have been developed for capturing and rendering musical performances on handheld or other portable devices. The developed techniques facilitate the capture, encoding and use of gesture streams for rendering of a musical performance. In some embodiments, a gesture stream encoding facilitates audible rendering of the musical performance locally on the portable device on which the musical performance is captured, typically in real time. In some embodiments, a gesture stream efficiently codes the musical performance for transmission from the portable device on which the musical performance is captured to (or toward) a remote device on which the musical performance is (or can be) rendered. Indeed, is some embodiments, a gesture stream so captured and encoded may be rendered both locally and on remote devices using substantially identical or equivalent instances of a digital synthesis of the musical instrument executing on the local and remote devices. |
| US08686274B2 |
Pitch shift device and process
A pitch shift device provides pitch-shifted sounds based on performance sounds generated by an electronic string musical instrument. The pitch shift device has a device that detects vibrato. When vibrato is detected, an interpolation device of a pitch shift control device performs a control of interpolating for a pitch shift change in the musical sound signal accompanying a change in pitch shift information stored in a pitch information storage device and read out by a pitch shift readout device from a group of pitch shift information. Therefore, unnatural pitch changes in pitch-shifted sound can be suppressed. |
| US08686271B2 |
Methods and systems for synchronizing media
Systems and methods of synchronizing media are provided. A client device may be used to capture a sample of a media stream being rendered by a media rendering source. The client device sends the sample to a position identification module to determine a time offset indicating a position in the media stream corresponding to the sampling time of the sample, and optionally a timescale ratio indicating a speed at which the media stream is being rendered by the media rendering source based on a reference speed of the media stream. The client device calculates a real-time offset using a present time, a timestamp of the media sample, the time offset, and optionally the timescale ratio. The client device then renders a second media stream at a position corresponding to the real-time offset to be in synchrony to the media stream being rendered by the media rendering source. |
| US08686270B2 |
Apparatus and method for classifying, displaying and selecting music files
At an apparatus (200), which may be a consumer electronic device, the user may select a predetermined number of different music attributes (Attr) descriptive of a mood delivered by music represented by music content of a music file. From parameters of a music file available in the apparatus (200), the apparatus (200) determines a first vector (m1(Dat)) descriptive of a relationship between the music content and all selected music attributes (Attr) and a second vector (m2(Dat)) and outputs a classification information related to the music file and containing the first and second vectors (m1(Dat), m2(Dat)). The classification information may be used to assign a colour to a displayed object assigned to the music file. Perceptually similar music files may be displayed in similar colours. |
| US08686266B2 |
Keyboard device
The present invention includes a keyboard chassis 1; keys 2 which are arranged on the keyboard chassis 1 and rotate in an up and down direction by bending a bendable section 22 positioned in the rear; and a key rotation holding section 30 for holding the rotation fulcrum of a key 2 stable when it rotates in the up and down direction. Accordingly, the rotation fulcrum of the key 2 is kept stable by a first supporting section 31 and a second supporting section 32 of the key rotation holding section 30 when the key 2 is depressed and the bendable section 22 bends in the up and down direction, whereby the key 2 is stably rotated. Therefore, regardless of whether the front portion of the key 2 is being depressed or the rear portion thereof is being depressed, the rotation movement of the key 2 will always remain stable. |
| US08686265B2 |
Topside spring tension adjuster for bass drum pedals with variable pivot point spring rotor
Described is a drum foot pedal with a tension adjuster for adjusting the tension of the spring and corresponding return action of a beater. The device includes a foot pedal and a beater bracket operably connected with the foot pedal such that the beater bracket is actuated in response to force applied to the foot pedal. A rocker component is attached with the beater bracket such that rotational motion of the beater bracket causes a rotational motion of the rocker component. A swivel component is connected with the rocker component. Further, a spring is attached with the swivel component for biasing the beater bracket to force a return action of a beater when force is removed from the foot pedal. Finally, a spring tension adjuster connected with and between the swivel component and spring, the spring tension adjuster operable for allowing a user to selectively adjust tension of the spring. |
| US08686262B1 |
Maize inbred PH1MBT
A novel maize variety designated PH1MBT and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1MBT with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1MBT through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1MBT or a locus conversion of PH1MBT with another maize variety. |
| US08686259B1 |
Maize inbred PH1KWM
A novel maize variety designated PH1KWM and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1KWM with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1KWM through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1KWM or a locus conversion of PH1KWM with another maize variety. |
| US08686254B1 |
Maize inbred PH1M3S
A novel maize variety designated PH1M3S and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1M3S with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1M3S through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1M3S or a locus conversion of PH1M3S with another maize variety. |
| US08686253B1 |
Maize hybrid X08C909
A novel maize variety designated X08C909 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08C909 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08C909 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08C909, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08C909. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08C909. |
| US08686251B1 |
Maize inbred PH1K8C
A novel maize variety designated PH1K8C and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1K8C with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1K8C through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1K8C or a locus conversion of PH1K8C with another maize variety. |
| US08686246B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X08B703
A novel maize variety designated X08B703 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08B703 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B703 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B703, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B703. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B703. |
| US08686240B2 |
Soybean variety XB19D12
A novel soybean variety, designated XB19D12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB19D12, cells from soybean variety XB19D12, plants of soybean XB19D12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB19D12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB19D12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB19D12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB19D12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB19D12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB19D12 are further provided. |
| US08686238B1 |
Soybean variety XBP27007
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP27007 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP27007, cells from soybean variety XBP27007, plants of soybean XBP27007, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP27007. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP27007 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP27007, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP27007, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP27007. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP27007 are further provided. |
| US08686234B1 |
Soybean variety XB45J12
A novel soybean variety, designated XB45J12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB45J12, cells from soybean variety XB45J12, plants of soybean XB45J12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB45J12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB45J12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB45J12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB45J12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB45J12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB45J12 are further provided. |
| US08686232B2 |
Vip3 toxins and methods of use
Nucleic acid molecules encoding novel Vip3 toxins that are highly active against a wide range of lepidopteran insect pests are disclosed. The nucleic acid molecules can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the Vip3 toxins. These recombinant organisms can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments. |
| US08686230B2 |
Corn plant MON88017 and compositions and methods for detection thereof
The present invention provides a corn plant designated MON88017 and DNA compositions contained therein. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the corn plant MON88017 based on a DNA sequence and the use of this DNA sequence as a molecular marker in a DNA detection method. |
| US08686229B2 |
Spinach hybrid RX 06681651 and parents thereof
The invention provides seed and plants of spinach hybrid RX 06681651 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of spinach hybrid RX 06681651 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a spinach plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another spinach plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the leaf and gametes of such plants. |
| US08686228B2 |
Spinach hybrid RX 06672115 and parents thereof
The invention provides seed and plants of spinach hybrid RX 06672115 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of spinach hybrid RX 06672115 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a spinach plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another spinach plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the leaf and gametes of such plants. |
| US08686226B2 |
MYB-related transcriptional regulators that confer altered root hare, trichome morphology, and increased tolerance to abiotic stress in plants
The invention relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having improved tolerance to drought, shade, and low nitrogen conditions, as compared to wild-type or reference plants. |
| US08686217B2 |
Absorbent product
An absorbent product has a top sheet, an absorbent core and a back sheet. The absorbent core includes 40% by weight or more of high absorbent resin powder and it is possible to slim down the absorbent core while keeping a sufficient amount of absorption to thereby achieve slimming down of the absorbent product. A top sheet lower part contacting the high absorbent resin powder in the absorbent core includes hydrophilic fibers having water retention characteristics, and moisture is temporarily retained in the top sheet lower part before reaching the absorbent core and rapidly disperses in a range facing the absorbent core of the top sheet lower part. As a result, it is possible to reliably absorb the moisture of excrement in the absorbent core and to simplify a structure of the absorbent product. |
| US08686213B2 |
Disposal and decontamination of radioactive polyvinyl alcohol products
Methods and apparatus for decontaminating disposable protective products prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), used in a nuclear power plant, to less than minimum detectable activity (MDA) are disclosed. In the disclosed methods and apparatus, solid protective products made of PVA, generated from a nuclear power plant, are dissolved into a liquid, and then are decontaminated to less than MDA. The PVA solution decontaminated in this way is concentrated to an appropriate concentration or dried, and finally is subjected to self-disposal. This can fundamentally block the generation amount of combustible waste amounting to 50% or more of low and intermediate level waste of nuclear power plants, thereby considerably contributing to a reduction of the operating expenses of the nuclear power plants. The present invention further relates to methods and apparatus for self-disposing disposable protective products manufactured by conventional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) through pyrolysis/catalytic oxidation of a PVA solution generated by concentration, and treating the decontaminated PVA solution within a plant. The PVA protective products are dissolved/concentrated/oxidized in water to remove firstly organic matter, and then PVA materials in the PVA solution are completely oxidized into CO2 and H2O by using a small-sized pyrolysis/catalytic oxidation reactor. |
| US08686211B2 |
Process for preparing ethylene and/or propylene and a butadiene-enriched product
The present invention provides a process for preparing ethylene and propylene and a butadiene-enriched product, comprising the steps of: a) providing a C4 hydrocarbon stream, comprising iso-olefins and butadiene. b) subjecting the C4 hydrocarbon stream to an etherification process, wherein the iso-olefins are converted with methanol and/or ethanol to an tert-alkyl ether in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the molar ratio of alcohol to iso-olefin is maintained above 1, and retrieving an etherification product stream; c) separating the etherification product stream into an ether-enriched stream and a butadiene-enriched product; d) converting the tert-alkyl ether in the ether-enriched stream to ethylene and/or propylene by contacting least part of the ether-enriched stream with a molecular sieve-comprising catalyst at a temperature in the range of from 350 to 1000° C. and retrieving an olefinic product comprising ethylene and/or propylene. |
| US08686210B2 |
Method for extracting gaseous hydrocarbons from biogenic raw materials
A process for obtaining gaseous hydrocarbons from a starting material which contains oxygen-containing hydrocarbons. The process includes providing the starting material and contacting the starting material with a porous catalyst at a temperature of 300-850° C. in the absence of oxygen in a converting reactor so as to form a hydrocarbon-containing product gas mixture in which a proportion by weight of gaseous hydrocarbons is greater than a proportion by weight of liquid hydrocarbons in the gas mixture. Additionally, the process includes collecting a hydrocarbon-containing product gas stream of the hydrocarbon-containing product gas mixture and introducing the product gas stream into a separation apparatus in which product fractionation is carried out. |
| US08686203B2 |
Process for preparing diesel fuels using vegetable oils or fatty acid derivatives
A process for preparing fuels, such as diesel fuels or jet fuels, by hydrotreating vegetable oils or fatty acid derivatives that may be applied to existing equipment for treating fossil fuels. The process comprises feeding hydrotreating a combined oxygenate feed stream, such as FAME, and a hydrocarbon feed stream until not more than 86 wt % of the esters in the oxygenate feed stream are converted to hydrocarbons, and optionally further hydrotreating the product stream within at least a second hydrotreatment reaction zone until at least 90 wt % of the esters in the oxygenate feed stream are converted to hydrocarbons, before removing and separating a hydrocarbon stream suitable for use as fuel. |
| US08686198B2 |
Integrated hydrolysis/hydroprocessing process for converting feedstocks containing renewable glycerides to paraffins and polyols
An integrated process for producing paraffins and polyols from renewable feedstocks has been developed in which a hydrolysis process is integrated with the hydroprocessing step, producing products suitable for use as transportation fuels. Integration allows the use of common equipment which minimizes cost, raw material consumption, and energy requirements. |
| US08686197B2 |
Method for improving the color number of trimethylolpropane
The present invention relates to a method for producing trimethylolpropane having a low color number by processing a raw reaction solution obtained according to the inorganic Cannizarro process while adhering to precisely defined pH values. |
| US08686194B2 |
Mo-, Bi- and Fe-comprising multimetal oxide compositions
Mo-, Bi- and Fe-comprising multimetal oxide compositions of the general stoichiometry I, Mo12BiaCobFecKdSieOx (I), where a=0.5 to 1, b=7 to 8.5, c=1.5 to 3.0, d=0 to 0.15, e=0 to 2.5 and x=the stoichiometric coefficient of O2− which guarantees the electric neutrality of the multimetal oxide, and 12−b−1.5·c=A and 0.5≦A≦1.5, 0.2≦a/A≦1.3, and 2.5≦b/c≦9, and the use thereof. |
| US08686191B2 |
Environmentally-friendly new oxidation process for converting aryl-1,2-diol to ketone
The present invention relates to the technical field of radiation curing photopolymerization initiator, and particularly to an environmentally-friendly new oxidation process for converting several specific aryl-1,2-diol compounds to corresponding arylhydroxyketones. |
| US08686180B2 |
Process for preparing aminobenzofuran derivatives
This disclosure relates to a process for preparing 5-aminobenzofuran derivatives of general formula (I): in which R1 and R2 are as defined in the description, by treating a 5-N-alkylamidobenzofuran derivative of general formula (II): in which R1, R2, and R3 are as defined in the description, with a strong acid, so as to form an acid addition salt of the compound of formula (I), which salt is itself treated, if necessary, with a basic agent so as to form this compound of formula (I) in free base form. |
| US08686178B2 |
Derivative of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid apt to suppress cancer cells
The present invention is correlated with a derivative of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid apt to suppressing cancer cells, which is selected from a group comprising of structure I and structure II: wherein residue R1 is selected from one of CH3 and CH2C6H5, residue R2 is selected from one of COOCH3, COOCH2CH3, COOCH(CH3)2, CONHCH2CH3, CONHCH2CH2CH3, and CONHCH2(CH3)2, and residue R3 is selected from one of COOCH2CH3, COOCH(CH3)2, CONHCH2CH3, CONHCH2CH2CH3, and CONHCH2(CH3)2. |
| US08686177B2 |
LPA receptor agonists and antagonists
Disclosed are compounds according to formula (I) as well as pharmaceutical compositions which include those compounds. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds, which have activity as agonists or as antagonists of LPA receptors; such methods including treating cancer, producing radioprotection and/or radiomitigation, enhancing cell proliferation, treating a wound, treating apoptosis or preserving or restoring function in a cell, tissue, or organ, culturing cells, preserving organ or tissue function, and treating a dermato logical condition. |
| US08686172B2 |
Activation of porous MOF materials
A method for the treatment of solvent-containing MOF material to increase its internal surface area involves introducing a liquid into the MOF in which liquid the solvent is miscible, subjecting the MOF to supercritical conditions for a time to form supercritical fluid, and releasing the supercritical conditions to remove the supercritcal fluid from the MOF. Prior to introducing the liquid into the MOF, occluded reaction solvent, such as DEF or DMF, in the MOF can be exchanged for the miscible solvent. |
| US08686168B2 |
Process for the hydrogenation of fatty acids using a promoted supported nickel catalyst
The invention is directed to a process for the hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids to produce saturated fatty acids, said process comprising hydrogenating the unsaturated fatty acid in the presence of hydrogen and a supported nickel catalyst, said supported nickel catalyst comprising an oxidic support, 5 to 80 wt. % of nickel, calculated as metallic nickel on the weight of the catalyst, and 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a manganese promoter, calculated as MnO2 on the weight of the catalyst. |
| US08686167B2 |
Heteroatom containing substituted fatty acids
Activated fatty acids, pharmaceutical compositions including activated fatty acids, methods for using activated fatty acids to treat a variety of diseases, and methods for preparing activated fatty acids are provided herein. |
| US08686163B2 |
Process for forming amorphous atorvastatin
A process for forming amorphous atorvastatin comprising the steps of dissolving atorvastatin in a non-hydroxylic solvent and removing the solvent by freeze-drying, as well as processes of dissolving atorvastatin in a hydroxylic solvent with a solubilizing agent or an alkalizing agent or an antioxidant and removing the solvent by freeze-drying to afford amorphous atorvastatin. |
| US08686161B2 |
Polymorphic forms of perindopril (L)-arginine and process for the preparation thereof
The present invention relates to novel and stable polymorphic forms of Perindopril (L)-Arginine designated as Form γ and amorphous form and processes for their preparation. The present invention also provides the novel polymorph Form γ with greater stability to heat and humidity and can be prepared on large scale by an efficient, economic and reproducible process. |
| US08686158B2 |
High-valent palladium fluoride complexes and uses thereof
The present invention provides novel high-valent palladium fluoride complexes. The complexes typically include multi-dentate ligands that stabilize the octahedral coordination sphere of the palladium(IV) atom. These complexes are useful in fluorinating organic compounds, in particular aryl-containing compounds. The invention is particularly useful for fluorinating compounds with 19F for PET imaging. |
| US08686157B2 |
Processes for the facile synthesis of diaryl amines and analogues thereof
The present invention relates to processes for the facile synthesis of diaryl amines and analogues thereof. The processes of the present invention produce diaryl amines in high yield and purity. The present invention also relates to intermediates useful in the process of the present invention. |
| US08686151B2 |
Montelukast 4-halobenzylamine salt and method for preparing montelukast sodium salt by using the same
Disclosed are a novel montelukast 4-halobenzylamine salt, and a method for preparing a montelukast sodium salt by using the same. In the disclosed method, a montelukast 4-halobenzylamine salt represented by Formula 2 or a montelukast sodium salt represented by Formula 1 is prepared by obtaining a compound represented by Formula 3 from a compound represented by Formula 5, in the same reactor, without an additional obtaining process. In Formula 2, X represents F, Cl, Br or I. |
| US08686149B2 |
Aryl- and heteroarylcarbonyl derivatives of hexahydroindenopyridine and octahydrobenzoquinoline
The present invention relates to compounds defined by formula I wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, R4, and m are defined as in claim 1, possessing valuable pharmacological activity. Particularly, the compounds are inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) 1 and thus are suitable for treatment and prevention of diseases which can be influenced by inhibition of this enzyme, such as metabolic diseases, in particular diabetes type 2, obesity, and dyslipidemia. |
| US08686148B2 |
Process for preparing new tiotropium salts, new tiotropium salts as such and pharmaceutical compositions thereof
The invention relates to a process for preparing new tiotropium salts, these new tiotropium salts as such, pharmaceutical formulations containing them and their use for preparing a medicament for the treatment of respiratory complaints, particularly for the treatment of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma. |
| US08686146B2 |
Azaindenoisoquinoline topoisomerase I inhibitors
The invention described herein pertains to substituted azaindenoisoquinoline compounds, in particular 7-, 8-, 9-, and 10-azaindenoisoquinoline compounds, which are inhibitors of topoisomerase I, processes and intermediates for their syntheses, pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds, and methods of using them in the treatment of cancer. |
| US08686145B2 |
Process for the preparation of α-acyloxy β-formamido amides
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of the general Formula (I), comprising: a) reacting a compound of the general Formula (II) with a compound of the Formula III R2COOH and a compound of the general Formula IV R3NC under such conditions that compound I is formed, wherein R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aromatic or non-aromatic, mono-, di- or tricyclic, or heterocyclic structure, and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aromatic or non-aromatic, mono-, di- or tricyclic, or heterocyclic structure, and R3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl structure. In further aspect the subject invention relates to the use of the obtained products as intermediates for various peptidomimetics, and preferably as a building block in a convergent synthesis of prolyl dipeptide structures. |
| US08686143B2 |
Compounds useful as inhibitors of Janus kinases
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases, particularly of JAK family kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. |
| US08686142B2 |
2-aminopyrimidine modulators of the histamine H4 receptor
2-Aminopyrimidine compounds are described, which are useful as H4 receptor modulators. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by H4 receptor activity, such as allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and pruritis. |
| US08686141B2 |
Process for preparing N-substituted hydroxypyrimidinone carboxamides
Processes for preparing certain N-arylalkyl-1-(alkyl or aralkyl)-2-acylaminoalkyl-5-hydroxy-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-4-carboxamides are disclosed. In one embodiment, the process comprises acylating the free amine in the corresponding N-arylalkyl-1-(alkyl or aralkyl)-2-aminoalkyl-5-ester protected hydroxy-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-4-carboxamide and then deprotecting the 5-hydroxy by base hydrolysis. The hydroxypyrimidinone carboxamide products of the process are HTV integrase inhibitors which are useful for treating HTV infection, treating AIDS, or delaying the onset or progression of AIDS. Certain esterified N-arylalkyl hydroxypyrimidinone carboxamides that can be employed as process intermediates are also disclosed. |
| US08686133B2 |
Oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal, method for producing the same and electrophotographic photoreceptor
The invention provides an oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal which is stable, is superior in dispersibility in a photoreceptive layer and efficiently contributes to improvements in sensitivity and charge retention rate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor when it is used as a charge generating agent, a method for producing the oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal, and an electrophotographic photoreceptor. The oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal has predetermined optical characteristics and thermal properties and is produced by a production method including the following steps (a) to (d): (a) a step of dissolving a crude oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal in an acid to obtain an oxo-titanylphthalocyanine solution; (b) a step of adding the oxo-titanylphthalocyanine solution dropwise in a poor solvent to obtain a wet cake; (c) a step of washing the wet cake with an alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and (d) a step of stirring the washed wet cake under heating in a nonaqueous solvent to obtain an oxo-titanylphthalocyanine crystal. |
| US08686131B2 |
Synthetic heparin trisaccharides
Preparation and use of synthetic trisaccharides useful for the preparation of synthetic heparinoids. |
| US08686124B2 |
AXMI223z delta-endotoxin gene and methods for use
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity, including against lepidopteran pests, to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a toxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated toxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:27 and 28, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, 8, 13, and 18, as well as variants and fragments thereof. |
| US08686123B2 |
Use of manganese peroxidase for enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material
Improved manganese peroxidases, polynucleotides encoding improved manganese peroxidase and vectors and cells thereof are provided, as well as methods for converting a cellulose-containing biomass feedstock to ethanol using improved manganese peroxidases and cells expressing a heterologous manganese peroxidase as disclosed herein. |